Japan police arrest two on suspicion of trying to smuggle rice from Vietnam (www3.nhk.or.jp)
from fne8w2ah@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 07 Oct 12:24
https://lemmy.world/post/37015688

#world

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ramble81@lemmy.zip on 07 Oct 13:30 next collapse

They really are doing this to themselves.

For anyone wondering what’s going on, rice prices in Japan have been skyrocketing for a number of reasons (harvests, workers, etc). However their laws are so protectionist and their nationalism is so strong, they only want Japanese grown rice and refuse to import/place massive tariffs on imports.

For a country that rice is basically their largest staple, this is starting to have a big impact due to prices which is why this is happening.

There is not a global shortage, and prices are reasonable everywhere else, they just refuse to give in to help out their citizens.

limonfiesta@lemmy.world on 07 Oct 14:40 next collapse

I would imagine that for a country that imports so much food, protecting domestic food production is also a serious national security concern.

marcos@lemmy.world on 07 Oct 14:57 collapse

They are protecting their domestic food production.

Rice prices are high mostly because their government forced farmers to diversify their crops. What means they won’t go hungry if something bad happens.

They just can’t have all the things at the same time.

SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world on 07 Oct 16:12 collapse

The Japanese government is a geritocracy for sure

A bunch of bigot dinosaurs clinging to power, and a nation of people who are too polite to force them out.

Well except for the guy that iced Shinzo Abe

A_norny_mousse@feddit.org on 07 Oct 13:51 next collapse

“Hey little man hows it going” meme + Japanese flag

Cybersteel@lemmy.world on 08 Oct 01:50 collapse

Very short sighted. As much as I love japonica rice, I also love my Thai fragrant rice, basmati rice as well as my Vietnamese brown rice.