Japanese rice prices have declined for the first time in 18 weeks.

On May 12, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced that the average price of 5 kilograms of rice sold in supermarkets nationwide from April 28 to May 4 was 4,214 yen. This price is 19 yen lower than the previous week's historic high, marking the first decrease in 18 weeks. However, the decrease is very small, and the price of rice still remains at a high level, approximately double that of the same period last year.