Planting of heat-resistant rice varieties in Japan has surged to a record 18.2% of the country’s staple rice acreage, nearly tripling over the past decade. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry released the data for the 2025 crop year on Monday. The expansion now covers 44 of the nation’s 47 prefectures, excluding Hokkaido, Iwate, and Okinawa. Meanwhile, the total area planted with heat-resistant rice reached 248,000 hectares, up 42,000 hectares from the previous season.
The shift has been especially dramatic in western Japan. Saga Prefecture led the country, with heat-resistant rice accounting for 66.9% of its staple acreage. Nagasaki followed at 49.8%, and Shimane reached 47.3%. In Kagoshima, the share quadrupled from the previous year to 24.4%. Furthermore, the variety Kinumusume topped the planting charts nationwide. Tochiginohoshi ranked second, and Koshiibuki came third.
The drive to adopt rice stems directly from climate change. Abnormally hot summers have become common, and high temperatures cause rice grains to crack during milling. Consequently, the proportion of grain that can sell as polished white rice drops sharply. Recent rice shortages have highlighted this heat damage. As a result, more farmers now view heat-resistant rice as essential for stable yields and quality.
Yuji Masutomi, a climate adaptation expert at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, called for further expansion. “The planting of heat-resistant rice varieties should be increased further in the years ahead,” he said. However, he pointed to a major obstacle. Many of these varieties remain unfamiliar to shoppers. “If consumers do not buy them, producers will be reluctant to grow them,” Masutomi warned. He stressed that public relations and marketing strategies are vital to boost consumer acceptance.
The record acreage underscores how Japan’s staple food supply must adapt to warming trends. Heat-resistant rice offers a practical solution, but its success hinges on market demand. For now, farmers are betting on science to protect their harvests. The trend also reflects broader agricultural shifts toward climate-resilient crops. The ministry plans to monitor adoption rates closely in coming seasons.
