TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Tainan rice has successfully entered the Japanese market, marking a significant milestone as Houbi District's (後壁區) Fang Rong Rice Factory (芳榮米廠) recently exported 500 metric tons of white rice to Japan. The Tainan City Government announced this development on Friday (June 20), highlighting the growing demand for Tainan's premium rice in Japan.
From January to May, Taiwan exported 7,759 metric tons of rice to Japan, six times the volume compared to last year, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA, 農業部), cited by the Tainan City Government. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) emphasized the achievement, noting that many Southeast Asian countries adopt protectionism for rice imports, and Japan is even stricter. Fang Rong Rice Factory's white rice success in Japan allows Japanese consumers to taste Tainan's high-quality rice.
As domestic rice prices in Japan continue to rise, more consumers are turning to imported rice, leading to a surge in Taiwan's rice exports, reported Nippon Television Network Corporation (日本テレビ放送網). In a June program, STV News Hokkaido (STV News北海道) compared the taste and texture of Taiwanese and Japanese rice, concluding that Taiwanese rice shows no significant difference in appearance, taste, and sweetness compared to Japanese rice.
Japanese content creators have also produced videos showcasing Taiwanese rice and experimenting with Japanese dishes. The feedback indicates that Taiwanese rice has a pleasant aroma and a texture similar to Japanese Koshihikari rice (越光米). While its sweetness and umami might be slightly weaker, it pairs well with grilled meat, curry, and beef bowls. However, the difference might be more noticeable when used in cold rice balls or lunch boxes.
