Japan Increases Cultivation of Heat-Resistant Rice Amid Rising Temperatures
Japan’s farmers plant more heat-resistant rice as harvest threatened
Image: Inquirer
In response to rising temperatures, Japan's farmers have significantly increased the cultivation of heat-resistant rice, now accounting for 18.2% of rice acreage. This shift aims to mitigate quality and yield declines caused by heat stress, with notable growth in western Japan's prefectures.
- 01The share of heat-resistant rice varieties in Japan has increased to 18.2% of total rice acreage, nearly tripling in a decade.
- 02In the 2025 crop year, heat-resistant rice was planted across 44 prefectures, with a total area of 248,000 hectares.
- 03Saga prefecture leads with 66.9% of its rice acreage dedicated to heat-resistant varieties, followed by Nagasaki at 49.8% and Shimane at 47.3%.
- 04The most popular heat-resistant rice variety is Kinumusume, followed by Tochiginohoshi and Koshiibuki.
- 05Experts emphasize the need for better public relations to promote these varieties to consumers.
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As Japan faces increasingly hot summers, farmers are adapting by expanding the cultivation of heat-resistant rice varieties, which now occupy 18.2% of the country's rice acreage. This figure has nearly tripled over the last decade. In the upcoming 2025 crop year, heat-resistant rice was planted across 44 prefectures, totaling 248,000 hectares, an increase of 42,000 hectares from the previous season. The trend is particularly pronounced in western Japan, with Saga prefecture leading at 66.9% of its rice acreage dedicated to these varieties. Other notable prefectures include Nagasaki at 49.8% and Shimane at 47.3%. The most widely grown heat-resistant variety is Kinumusume. However, challenges remain as many consumers are unfamiliar with these varieties, prompting experts like Yuji Masutomi to call for enhanced marketing strategies to encourage consumer acceptance and support for these crops.
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The shift to heat-resistant rice varieties is crucial for maintaining rice quality and yield in Japan's changing climate.
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