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Abstract
Japan's Food Control System was established in 1942 during World War II in order to
cope with the shortage of food. The system has been maintained in order to secure a stable
supply of rice, a staple food and key crop in the country. The functions and roles of this
system change gradually according to fluctuations in the rice market. Since the establishment
of the 'voluntary rice-marketing system' in 1969, Japan's marketed rice has been
classified into the following three types: (1) Government-marketed rice (GM rice): the
government purchases from rice growers and sells to wholesalers. (2) Voluntarily marketed
rice (VM rice): rice assemblers' organizations sell directly to wholesalers. (3) Freely
marketed rice (FM rice) which is an illegal practice. Recent trends have witnessed decreased
sales of GM rice and increases in the sales of VM and FM rice, thus resulting in the
weakening of government control of the rice supply.
The goods markets for VM rice instituted in 1990 introduced to a greater degree the
market mechanism of price controls for rice. At the same time, the government's control of
rice distribution was relaxed to allow new access to rice dealers and to promote free trade
between sellers and buyers. Although the Food Control System in Japan has changed
significantly, it will be retained since it protects the rice supply and paddy field agricultural
system.