[Source]
The Japanese government issued a warning Tuesday, advising people to remain calm and not to panic buy at supermarkets. Japan is experiencing an unprecedented drop in rice supplies, which officials blame in part on a tourism boom.
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What was the cause: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tetsushi Sakamoto said the panic buying was caused by a series of events, including a government warning in early August about a possible “megaquake” that could occur within the next 30 years, recent typhoons and the week-long Obon festival, which was held from Aug. 13 to 16. Some supermarkets are limiting consumers to one bag of rice per day per family.
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End of the shortage: Sakamoto assured people that the shortage will be over soon, probably in September, when the newly harvested rice will be distributed. “We expect the rice shortage to gradually improve. We ask consumers to remain calm and buy only the amount of rice they need,” he said. A farmer in Aomori Prefecture echoed the same sentiment, telling Kyodo News: “High temperatures make rice grow faster, but things are going well. There was no impact from typhoons. There is no need to panic.”
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