S/ Ishiba Shigeru, Prime Minister / We had determined that the rice production volume was sufficient. Things like this brought about the price surge.

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru said on August 5 that the government will shift toward increasing rice production while admitting that a shortage in the grain played a part in the rising prices.

Japan's agriculture ministry had repeatedly explained that the rice production volume was sufficient and put the blame for the price surge on distribution issues.

But Ishiba told a meeting of relevant ministers that an investigation into the price surge has shown that the government had mistakenly determined that production volume was sufficient even though it was not enough to meet the demand of consumers.

He also said the timing and method of releasing the government's stockpiled rice were not appropriate, further contributing to the high prices that have continued for about a year.

To deal with the matter, Ishiba pledged to shift toward increased production in a turnaround from effectively putting controls on rice production.

S/ Koizumi Shinjiro, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister / We had continued calculating the supply and demand outlook based on the fixed perception that the demand for rice will decrease by 100,000 tons annually due to a declining and aging population, and we take our responsibility for this seriously.

The farm minister said his ministry should have grasped consumption trends involving demand for rice in real time but misjudged the situation.