The price of Japanese-grown rice is soaring due to high inflation, low farm yields and a growing tourism sector.

“Many of our learners come to school without having eaten the previous evening, so receiving only one bag of rice makes a difference ... “We are appreciative of this generous gift. Our Feeding kitchen ...

An 11-pound bag of rice now costs nearly 4,000 yen ($27), double the price a year earlier. As prices began to rise last year, the authorities warned against panic buying, saying that Japan’s ...