Japan imports rice from South Korea and the US
Listen to the story (South African accent)
Japan has bought rice from South Korea for the first time since 1999.
Japan needed to buy rice because the price of Japanese rice has increased dramatically. The price has more than doubled in the last year. Japanese people are upset because food costs more money.
People are now looking for cheaper rice from other countries. Even though it costs extra money to import rice from other places, some foreign rice is still cheaper than Japanese rice.
A small amount of rice from South Korea arrived in Japan last month. It was sold online and in stores. More rice from South Korea is expected to come soon.
In the past, many people in Japan did not like rice from other countries. When the country imported Thai rice in 1993, nobody bought it. However, with high prices now, some people are trying it.
One restaurant owner in Tokyo started using rice from the US last year because it cost less than Japanese rice. Even though the price of US rice has also gone up, it is still cheaper than the rice grown in Japan. Customers have not noticed a difference in quality or complained.
The Japanese government is also trying to help with the high prices. It started selling extra rice that was kept safe in storage. However, there have been problems getting this stockpiled rice to the stores quickly.
Additionally, Japan’s stockpile of rice is decreasing. Rice in Japan didn’t grow well in 2023 because of high temperatures, and last year more people ate rice than in previous years.
Vocabulary25 words
- Increase
- to go up; to make something larger; to make more of; expand
- Dramatically
- in a way that is very noticeable or impressive, often in a way that is unexpected or sudden
- Double
- two times more; 2x; 100% more
- Upset
- Feeling sad, angry, or disappointed about something
- Even though
- although; despite the fact that; a phrase used to show a contrast or contradiction between two things;
- Extra
- More than usual; more than needed
- Import
- to bring in goods, products, and/or services from another country
- Foreign
- from another country; something from outside of your country; belonging or connected to a country that is not your own
- Amount
- quantity; number; total; sum; size
- Expect
- to think something will happen; forecast; predict; suppose
- Thai
- Relating to or from Thailand
- Owner
- the person who has something; the person who has the right to control something; the person who has something and can decide what happens to it;
- Grow
- To become bigger or increase in size; become; to get larger;
- Customer
- A person who buys things from a store or business; client
- Notice
- to become aware of; to see; to learn of something
- Quality
- how good or bad something is; condition;
- Complain
- to say you’re not happy or you don’t like something-
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Keep
- hold onto something and not let it go; to save; to store something
- Storage
- space available for keeping or storing something
- Stockpile
- A large amount of something kept safe
- Additionally
- also; moreover; in addition; furthermore; plus
- Decrease
- to go down; to become less; become smaller
- Temperature
- A measure of how hot or cold something is; we usually measure temperature in degrees Celcius or Farenheit
- Previous
- coming or occurring before something else; existing before in time or order; preceding
Quiz
Answer key
1. It cost more than twice as much. 2. Last month 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japan has _____ rice from South Korea for the first time since _____ .
Japan needed to buy rice _____ the price of Japanese rice has increased dramatically. The _____ has more than doubled in the last _____ . Japanese people are upset because food _____ more money.
People are now looking _____ cheaper rice from other countries. Even though it costs _____ money to import rice from other places, some _____ rice is still cheaper than Japanese rice.
A small _____ of rice from South Korea arrived in Japan last month. It _____ sold online and in stores. More rice from South Korea is _____ to come soon.
In the past, many _____ in Japan did not like rice from other countries. When the country _____ Thai rice in 1993, nobody bought it. However, with high prices _____ , some people are trying it.
One restaurant owner in _____ started using rice from the US last year because it cost less than _____ rice. Even though the price of US rice has also _____ up, it is still cheaper than the rice grown _____ Japan. Customers have not _____ a difference in quality or complained.
The Japanese _____ is also trying to help with the high prices. It started _____ extra rice that was kept safe in storage. However, there have been _____ getting this stockpiled rice to the stores _____ .
Additionally, Japan’s stockpile of _____ is decreasing. Rice in Japan didn’t grow well in _____ because of high temperatures, and last year more people ate rice _____ in previous years.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the price of something important like rice can go up so much sometimes?
- The government in the story tried to help with the rice prices. What is one way a government might help people when important things like food become very expensive?
- The story mentions problems getting the stockpiled rice to the stores. What are some things that could make it difficult to move food from one place to another place where people can buy it?
- Rice is a very important food in Japan. What is a very important food in your country or culture? Why is it special?
More Business stories
Next story · Medium
US government will ban artificial food dyes