TOKYO, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The average price of rice sold at supermarkets across Japan fell to 3,801 yen (about 26.32 U.S. dollars) per 5 kg during the week ending June 22, official data showed Monday.
This marked the fifth straight week of price declines, according to Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The ministry attributed the continued price drop to increased sales of government reserve rice, which are generally cheaper.
Among rice types, blended rice, which includes the reserve stocks, averaged 3,346 yen, down 149 yen from the previous week.
The ministry surveys roughly 1,000 supermarkets across the country and publishes weekly updates on rice prices.
As part of efforts to ease skyrocketing rice prices in the past year, the Japanese government has started to release its reserve rice to the market since March. ■