{
  "id": 1763799,
  "title": "Niigata New Rice Prices Fall 40%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/niigata-new-rice-prices-fall-40",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T17:44:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "News On Japan",
    "slug": "news-on-japan",
    "url": "https://newsonjapan.com/article/150417.php"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "JA Zen-Noh Niigata announced on August 18 a 40% reduction in advance payment for standard Koshihikari rice from the 2026 crop, dropping to 18,500 yen per 60 kilograms of brown rice. This price cut comes as inventories build in Niigata, Japan's leading rice-producing prefecture. The decrease in advance payment is closely tied to the prices of newly harvested rice, and is expected to impact pricing in other regions as well. Meanwhile, a tropical depression near the Chuuk Islands is forecast to intensify into a strong typhoon by August 23, while fire and flooding disruptions continue across various parts of Japan.",
  "summary": "JA Zen-Noh Niigata decided on August 18 to set its advance payment for standard Koshihikari rice from the 2026 crop at 18,500 yen per 60 kilograms of brown rice, about 40% lower than a year earlier as inventories continue to build. (News On Japan)",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}