With the Japanese Yen at an all-time low and increased inflation numbers pinching pocketbooks, Japanese companies have been eager for any form of reprieve. A recent upswing in rice export prices has offered a ray of hope for the beleaguered rice export division of the Japanese economy.
The reason for the increased export prices of rice comes from a surprising source — onigiri rice balls.
Japanese Staple Finds Foothold Overseas
If you’re unsure just what an onigiri rice ball is, you’re not alone. These delicate yet delicious rice balls are catching the interest of consumers outside of Japan.
Onigiri are fluffy, sticky Japanese rice balls wrapped in seaweed and compressed into varying shapes — usually triangles. These delicious parcels often contain a filling, too.
Billed as Japan’s original traveler’s food, early versions incorporated salty or sour ingredients to preserve the rice for one’s journey. Nowadays, these little morsels are a lunchtime staple or pick-me-up snack. Favorite versions of onigiri contain salted salmon, pickled plum, or other regional favorites.
Japan News reports onigiri are taking Western nations by storm, becoming increasingly popular with health-conscious foreigners in Japan taking their new-found favorite snack back to their home country.
Six-Fold Increase in Rice Exports
This newfound interest is excellent news for Japanese rice farmers. Per-capita rice consumption peaked in 1962, with 2022 estimates for Japanese consumption nearing half that amount. That leaves rice surpluses in Japan waiting for a new trend like onigiri to take off.
Japan News cites the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) — the amount of rice exported from Japan jumped sixfold from 2014 to 2022 — from 4,516 tons exported to 28,928 tons.
Early 2024 Rice Exports Numbers Way Up
Leading Japanese newspaper The Mainichi reports that MAFF numbers are even more staggering.
Early 2024 numbers show a 20% increase in rice exports, making for a monumental 600% growth in just eight years. The credit, at least in large part, goes to rising onigiri attraction. With the yen’s dismal purchasing power, these all-important export increases could be a game-changer for Japan’s rice industry.
Early History: 2,000 Years of Onigiri
The Online Museum of Japan outlines the intriguing history of onigiri. The earliest links to the dish in Japan date back 2,000 years. Technically, “onigiri” means “ball of rice,” but superstitious travelers seeking strength and protection from kami, or mountain-dwelling spirits, incorporated the popular triangle shape. Hopeful voyagers thought creating and carrying the little mountain shapes would attract their protective support.
Rice Balls Steeped in Tradition
Today, these traditional rice balls remain beloved in Japan, often transcending simple snacks and becoming culinary delicacies like Yaki onigiri cha zuke, a crispy onigiri nestled into a flavorful broth and served with savory toppings. The group dedicated to the dish — the Onigiri Society of Japan — commits to promoting Japanese food culture through rice balls within Japan’s borders and beyond.
The onigiri organization’s representative director, Yusuke Nakamura spoke to The Mainichi. “Japan’s rice is becoming a brand in places such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.”
With onigiri shops opening in Europe and America, onigiri fans hope the unassuming little rice balls keep rice export numbers climbing. Thankfully, 2024 numbers indicate a promising future. While other factors have been at play, such as a suspected global slump in rice growth, there seems to be no doubt that Japan’s culinary trends are making a difference.
The Mainichi cites MAFF, directly attributes this year’s dramatic change in rice export prices to the overseas growth of Japanese supermarkets and restaurants, an increasing number of those making and selling onigiri. Simple versions of onigiri, once seen as an essential part of a Japanese mid-day meal, continue to find new life in the welcoming hands of foreigners.
Whether it is a delicate miso-inspired version of onigiri or a decadent salmon- and shrimp-filled iteration, these little rice balls act as wrapped presents from Japan to the world and greatly impact the Japanese economy. If the country’s more than 2,000-year history with onigiri is any indication, the onigiri rice parcel trend is just getting started.
