Rice is essential to Japanese culture, tradition, and politics. People take pride in the oval-shaped sticky Japonica grain, which is still a staple even though total consumption has fallen over the decades.

But since last summer, prices have soared as supplies have fallen short of demand. The government has long paid farmers to cut back on rice acreage, and change to other crops to keep rice prices relatively high.

To cope with shortfalls this year, the government has released rice reserves. But the grain has been slow to reach supermarket shelves. Anger over that was part of the reason the agriculture minister quit in May. Consumers are frustrated and wondering what happened to the rice.

WHY DID THE FARM MINISTER RESIGN?

Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned after he raised an uproar

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