Japan’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Masaki Yasushi, revealed that rising rice prices have become a major topic of public discussion in Japan. This is because rice remains a staple food consumed daily by the Japanese population, much like how Indonesians rely on it.

“Therefore, the price should ideally be kept at a reasonable level. However, over the past one or two years, rice prices have significantly increased due to various reasons, which has especially affected lower-income citizens,” he told CNBC Indonesia on Sunday (June 8, 2025).

In response to this situation, the Japanese government is currently prioritizing efforts to reduce rice prices. Japan has also appointed a new Minister of Agriculture.

The minister’s role includes implementing various measures, such as distributing rice reserves to supermarket networks and other distribution channels to ensure the product can be sold at prices that are affordable for the public.

Nevertheless, Masaki Yasushi admitted that Japan’s primary issue goes beyond pricing. He explained that Japan is facing a shortage of rice supply, even though rice is a central part of the Japanese diet. Since the post-war era, many agricultural policies have changed, leading to Japan’s declining ability to meet its own rice demand.

“So, we may need to consider a shift in our agricultural policy. I believe our government is currently discussing this matter, and it could serve as a valuable lesson for your country, Indonesia, as well,” he stated.

Furthermore, Masaki noted that Indonesians also depend on rice as a staple food and are fortunate to have vast rice fields. However, he acknowledged that Indonesia still occasionally needs to import rice from other countries due to climate-related and other challenges. This underscores the importance of a strong food supply.

For that reason, Masaki Yasushi affirmed that President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia is taking the right approach by enacting policies to strengthen domestic food supplies. On the other hand, Japan remains highly reliant on imported food.

“Our previous governments have made efforts to increase the proportion of domestically sourced rice,” he concluded.