alt Hacker NewsI would say the downvotes are primarily because you are inferring a political purpose to the OP that isn't in evidence, and railing against it in a way that appears simply off topic.
"So, if I may be editorial as a Canadian: No." is a strange, nonsensical way to respond to a post titled "Price of rice in Japan falls below ¥4k per 5kg".
Complaining about it and sarcastically ascribing ideological positions to downvoters is probably not helping, either.
See the top comment on this thread. It’s not nonsensical. It’s refuting the spirit of the conversation so far.
As for pesticides US vs Canada: Chlorpyrifos Neonicotinoids Ractopamine
All being phased out or banned up north. And much more restricted in EU/Internationally. While US use seems to me to be rampant.
Japanese rice costs more _because it is better_. And especially because it’s known by laypersons to be better. If any of the commenters here had any authority because perhaps they could claim they’ve spent a bunch of time in Japan like I have? I’d respect that.
And indeed, we Canadians are subject to politics about our supply management on dairy and poultry. It’s not just there to protect business. It’s there to protect health as far as my contemporaries are concerned.