Book Review Part 7

The Problem of Importing Rice

Rice Millers Association (RMA) react against the situation Japanese government close their market. Japanese government has a duty they have to protect Japanese rice and they resist the pressure of RMA. But, most remarkable thing is that Japanese consumers oppose the import of rice. Most of the opponent are women and elderly people, while young people insist that Japan should import rice with restrictions. Japanese consumers maintain that they would continue buying Japanese rice because the quality is better than imported rice and America would not very profit if Japan imported rice from America. They also assure that the cheap and imported rice would be used in restaurant.

However, various grocery are imported from America. For example, Japan imported fish and shellfish 35.9%, grain 14.6%, meet 14.8%, fruits and vegetables 12.7% in 1988. America exported 40 % of whole farm products and the total export of all items was supplied toward Japan. Like this, Japan depends on importing  of the majority of food, so consumers do not oppose it. It is true that Japan is the major export counterpart for America. 

Needless to say, the rice importation issue is concerned with political aspects. Because their votes depend on the huge impact rural farmers have. Thus, politicians　respond to their requests and they get many votes from them and they win the election. The reason why farmers have big influence with elections is that their vote collect in each unions, but urban vote is independent on each.