Japan’s deeply rooted rice-growing culture faces a crisis as aging farmers, restrictive policies and climate challenges threaten production, prompting urgent calls for modernization and government action. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/18/japan/japanese-politics-rice-is-the-third-rail/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #shigeruishiba #rice #agriculture #2025upperhouseelection #shinjirokoizumi