ABSTRACT
The Japanese reactions to the global price spikes on world grain markets in 2007–2008 were quite straightforward. The country became seriously concerned about its low food self-sufficiency rate of 40 per cent (in calorie terms), which is the lowest among the developed countries. The mass media attacked the government over ‘insecure’ food supplies and tried to promote domestic production. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) responded positively to these complaints, adjusting its budget to give more emphasis to increasing domestic production. Thus, even in a developed country where information on food supplies and the ability to import it are quite sufficient, people are calling for a return to increased domestic supply.
