Learning the Truth About Rice and the Reality of Paddy Fields: "6 Co-op Joint Study Session on Paddy Field Policy and Rice Pricing Issues" to be Held on April 11 (Sat)
Six major consumer cooperatives, including Seikatsu Club, will jointly hold a study session on April 11, 2026, to discuss Japan's agricultural policies and soaring rice prices with experts, government officials, and producers.
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- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 21:38
- 🔍 Collected: April 3, 2026 at 17:10
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 04:12 (419h 1m after Collected)
Seikatsu Club Consumers' Co-operative Union (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President: Shoichi Murakami, hereinafter Seikatsu Club), jointly with Pal System Consumers' Co-operative Union, Toto Consumers' Co-operative, Consumers' Co-operative Union Co-op Shizenha/Orange Co-op Business Union, Consumers' Co-operative Union I-Choice, and Green Co-op Consumers' Co-operative Union, will hold the "6 Co-op Joint Study Session on Paddy Field Policy and Rice Pricing Issues" on Saturday, April 11, 2026 (also available online).
The 6 co-ops, including Seikatsu Club, have continuously connected production and consumption through direct delivery from producing areas. And now, the sites where rice is produced are severely shaken. The decrease in production and consumption volumes, the unstoppable soaring of rice prices, and the difficulty of continuing to protect paddy fields... This is not just a problem for producers, nor is it just a problem for consumers. Facing this issue head-on, the 6 co-ops are holding a joint study session.
With the "Reiwa Rice Shortage" still fresh in our memories, and amid the unpredictability of what the future holds for the situation surrounding Japanese rice, please come and listen to the truth about rice and the real stories of paddy fields that you should know as a consumer.
**Event Overview: "6 Co-op Joint Study Session on Paddy Field Policy and Rice Pricing Issues"**
Date & Time: Saturday, April 11, 2026, 13:00-17:00
*General participation is online only. A URL will be sent to applicants.*
Venue: TKP Garden City PREMIUM Shinagawa HEART, 8th Floor, Hall 8B
Nearest Station: 5-minute walk from JR Shinagawa Station / Konan Exit
Format: Hybrid (Co-op members: in-person + General: Zoom Webinar)
Program:
- Keynote Speech: "Problems of the Acreage Reduction Policy Resulting in the Rice Shortage, and the Need for Direct Payments (Tentative Title)" by Prof. Takumi Sakuyama, School of Agriculture, Meiji University
- Lecture: "The Concept of Rice Policy Starting in 2027" by Gen Kunieda, Director, Planning Division, Crop Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Reports from the Production Sites:
Yutaka Akiyama, Representative Director and President, Hitachi Agricultural Cooperative
Osamu Konno, Head of the Joint Development Rice Committee, JA Shonai Midori / Yuza Town
Eisaku Kisu, Representative Director, Ferma Kisu Co., Ltd.
- Q&A Session
- Reports from Co-op Members and Consumers: Member representatives from each of the 6 co-ops
Guests/Participants: Local stakeholders, 20 Seikatsu Club member representatives
[Registration]
Due to venue capacity, in-person participation is limited to applicants through each co-op's contact point and media representatives. For online (ZOOM Webinar) participation, please apply using the "Online Participation Registration Form" displayed by scanning the QR code or visiting the URL below. (Application deadline: Wednesday, April 8)
The 6 co-ops, including Seikatsu Club, have continuously connected production and consumption through direct delivery from producing areas. And now, the sites where rice is produced are severely shaken. The decrease in production and consumption volumes, the unstoppable soaring of rice prices, and the difficulty of continuing to protect paddy fields... This is not just a problem for producers, nor is it just a problem for consumers. Facing this issue head-on, the 6 co-ops are holding a joint study session.
With the "Reiwa Rice Shortage" still fresh in our memories, and amid the unpredictability of what the future holds for the situation surrounding Japanese rice, please come and listen to the truth about rice and the real stories of paddy fields that you should know as a consumer.
**Event Overview: "6 Co-op Joint Study Session on Paddy Field Policy and Rice Pricing Issues"**
Date & Time: Saturday, April 11, 2026, 13:00-17:00
*General participation is online only. A URL will be sent to applicants.*
Venue: TKP Garden City PREMIUM Shinagawa HEART, 8th Floor, Hall 8B
Nearest Station: 5-minute walk from JR Shinagawa Station / Konan Exit
Format: Hybrid (Co-op members: in-person + General: Zoom Webinar)
Program:
- Keynote Speech: "Problems of the Acreage Reduction Policy Resulting in the Rice Shortage, and the Need for Direct Payments (Tentative Title)" by Prof. Takumi Sakuyama, School of Agriculture, Meiji University
- Lecture: "The Concept of Rice Policy Starting in 2027" by Gen Kunieda, Director, Planning Division, Crop Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Reports from the Production Sites:
Yutaka Akiyama, Representative Director and President, Hitachi Agricultural Cooperative
Osamu Konno, Head of the Joint Development Rice Committee, JA Shonai Midori / Yuza Town
Eisaku Kisu, Representative Director, Ferma Kisu Co., Ltd.
- Q&A Session
- Reports from Co-op Members and Consumers: Member representatives from each of the 6 co-ops
Guests/Participants: Local stakeholders, 20 Seikatsu Club member representatives
[Registration]
Due to venue capacity, in-person participation is limited to applicants through each co-op's contact point and media representatives. For online (ZOOM Webinar) participation, please apply using the "Online Participation Registration Form" displayed by scanning the QR code or visiting the URL below. (Application deadline: Wednesday, April 8)