Japan’s agriculture ministry said on August 4 that the average rice price sold in supermarkets rose by 40 yen compared to the previous week.

The average price of rice reached 3,625 yen per 5 kilograms during the week of July 21 to 27. This marked the first increase in ten weeks.

The price rise was largely driven by a 45-yen rise in the average price of blended rice, which includes government stockpiles.

The ministry also released separate survey data on August 1 in cooperation with a private research company. The survey showed an even sharper increase: a 94-yen rise in the average supermarket price for the week ending July 27.

Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro said on August 4 that the ministry will closely monitor future price trends, and added that the recent price movement may be due to a lull in demand from consumers wanting to try stockpiled rice.