Attention now!

Possibility of rice October 6 13:47

"Rice" can be said to be the most familiar food for us Japanese.

How much do you know about the current situation?

A mountain of problems!?

This kind of question is asked in the middle school entrance examination.


Choose the two correct answers for the question

.



A: Bread now exceeds rice in general household food spending.


Lee: The average price of rice continues to fall as there is a surplus of rice in the country.


C: Rice consumption increased year by year from the end of World War II to the bubble economy.


D: The export volume of Japanese rice to the United States and Europe is increasing year by year.



(Keio University Futsubu 2020 Society Retitled)

The correct answer is A and E.



In Japan, in recent years, bread has overtaken household spending on rice, while demand for rice is increasing overseas.

"Rice", the most familiar to Japanese people, for various purposes!

Amidst the issue of "move away from rice" in Japan, there is also a movement to expand the possibilities of "rice" with free ideas.

Foods such as bread, noodles, and crepes often use wheat flour as a raw material.



But why is the movement to use rice spreading?

Ryoji Ito, an assistant professor at Niigata University's Faculty of Agriculture who specializes in agricultural economics and is researching new ways to use rice, explains why.


It is said that there is a situation in Ukraine that shakes the world in the background.

Mr. Ito


"Russia's military invasion of Ukraine has caused wheat prices to skyrocket worldwide. Ukraine is one of the world's leading wheat producers. While the world's supply of wheat is tight, rice is a major crop that is surprisingly cheap and can continue to be supplied stably in Japan.For this reason, demand as a substitute is increasing, and there is a movement to review its value. It's starting

Rice flour is expanding against the backdrop of rising wheat prices.


According to Mr. Ito, processing technology has improved in recent years, and it is now possible to produce the springy texture of rice.


And there are other benefits.

Ms. Ito:


“It is a big advantage that the causative agent of wheat allergy is not produced with rice flour. People who have been unable to eat wheat bread until now will be able to enjoy various things such as bread and noodles made from rice.”

The harsh reality of Japan, where people are moving away from rice

However, the environment surrounding rice is becoming more severe.

The annual consumption of rice per capita has declined from a peak of 118 kg in 1962, to over 50 kg in 2020, less than half in 60 years.

In addition, bread overtook rice in terms of household spending on food in the last 10 years.

Mr. Ito says that it is necessary to change the way of thinking as the management environment for rice farmers becomes more difficult as dietary habits diversify and people move away from rice.

Ms. Ito:


“Creating consumption is the most important thing. Until now, Japanese people have been too particular about white rice and delicious rice cooked with grains. It is necessary to challenge fields that have not been explored and try something anyway.”

Cultivate new markets by reusing rice!

Under these circumstances, the rice industry is developing unprecedented products in an attempt to open up new markets.

A rice wholesaler in Kobe has developed a "cheese" made from rice.


This “rice cheese” is made entirely of rice, and by adding sake lees to the glutinous rice and mixing it with the umami ingredients extracted from the rice, it is possible to bring out the cheese-like taste.

On the other hand, a curry restaurant in Osaka has developed a “craft beer” using rice.


As the number of customers decreased due to COVID-19 and the amount of waste rice increased, we worked with a local brewery to develop beer using rice.


In addition to the sweetness of freshly cooked rice, the aftertaste also has a bitter beer-like aftertaste.

Support for challenges because it is now attracting attention

Mr. Ito says that in order to revitalize agriculture, it is necessary to have a system that supports various challenges toward the utilization of rice that is progressing on the ground.

Ms. Ito:


“Rice is an important agricultural product that supports the body, health, and lives of the Japanese people and can be supplied stably. And what is needed now is a system to support such challenges.”

"Rice" is also a Japanese food culture.


It would be nice to increase that possibility in a new way.

In "Migake, curiosity!" of "Weekly Maruwaki News" (broadcast at 8:25 am on Sundays), we delve into the news every week on topics such as current affairs presented in the entrance exam.


Let's think together about "why?"



On the corner homepage, you can also review the past.


Please take a look at the link below.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/maruwaka-migake/