Nishiki brand rice is seen at an Asian supermarket in the U.S. state of Maryland, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Mainichi/Wataru Okubo) WASHINGTON (Mainichi) -- Soaring rice prices in Japan triggered by the ...

Brewery Asahi Shuzo Co. held its first-ever contest in 2019 to find the best Yamada Nishiki rice variety to use in Dassai, a renowned “junmai daiginjo” (sake specially brewed with pure rice ...