Japan will lower by 4.6% the price...

Japan will lower by 4.6% the price paid to farmers for this year’s rice crop, government officials said. The Cabinet decision marks a second consecutive decline in the producer rice price, which determines consumer rice prices as well. Japanese customers pay up to eight times the price paid for rice in other countries. Under the new price, producers will receive $127 (U.S.) for 132 pounds of rice. After going through Japan’s complex distribution system, rice costs about $4 a pound.