As mentioned, I've done taste tests across various options and I can definitely tell the difference, which is why I pay more.
But as I also said, I can afford to pay more. I don't think the average Japanese is going to be effected. But as I mentioned, if you're budget conscious, not even considering non-Japanese rice is ridiculous.
> As mentioned, I've done taste tests across various options and I can definitely tell the difference, which is why I pay more.
Can you tell the difference between Japanese brands or only between Japanese and non Japanese origin rice?
Is rice a significant percentage of food cost in Japan? Coming from a culture that uses less rice, the cost of price verses the cost of protein makes it just about a rounding error when cooking.
Now butter on the other hand has just about become a luxury good in New Zealand when it was once cheap, plentiful and extremely high quality.