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原田英語の時事英語ジュニア｜英語ニュース ワークシート（高校生レベル）

Class ____ No. ____ Name ____________________

コメ5キロが2年ぶりに3000円を下回る　品薄から一転、余るほどに

From Shortage to Surplus as Rice Prices Keep Falling

音声・ゲームはこちらから

1The average price of rice in Japan has dropped below 3,000 yen per 5-kilogram bag for the first time in about two years, the agriculture ministry said on September 18. A bag sold for an average of 2,971 yen at about 1,000 supermarkets in the week to September 13. That was 32 yen less than the previous week.

2Rice is a staple food in Japan, so its price matters to almost every family. Rice prices began climbing in the summer of 2024, when a supply shortage hit the country. The price kept rising and peaked at 4,416 yen in January 2026. Since then, it has fallen by about a third.

3Two main factors have pushed prices down. The government released large amounts of rice from its emergency stockpiles, starting in March 2025. Such stockpiles are kept for emergencies like a poor harvest. Farmers also produced more rice in 2025, and that harvest has now reached stores.

4As a result, Japan has moved from a shortage to a surplus. Rice stocks held by private companies reached about 1.6 million tons at the end of July, a record for that time of year.

5On October 13, the ministry estimated this year's harvest at about 7.4 million tons, around 1 percent less than in 2025. Even so, supply is expected to far exceed demand. That could push rice prices down further in the coming months.

Words　単語

perB1前～につきfor each one
staple foodA1名主食the main thing that people eat every day
suppliesB1名供給、在庫amounts of something that are ready to use
factorsB2名要因things that help cause a result
releasedA2動放出したlet something go out so others can use it
emergencyA2名緊急事態、非常時a sudden dangerous situation that needs fast action
harvestA2名収穫the crops that are gathered from the fields
surplus外名余り、過剰more of something than is needed
exceedB2動上回るto be more than a certain amount
demandB1名需要how much people want to buy something

単語のレベル：CEFR-J（『CEFR-J Wordlist Version 1.6』 東京外国語大学投野由紀夫研究室. （URL: https://www.cefr-j.org/download.html より 2026年8月ダウンロード））

1. Reading Quiz　本文の内容に合うものを選ぼう

  1. How much did a 5-kilogram bag sell for on average in the week to September 13?

    A. 3,000 yenB. 4,416 yenC. 2,971 yenD. 1,600 yen

  2. When did the price reach its peak?

    A. January 2026B. Summer 2024C. March 2025D. September 2026

  3. When did the government start releasing rice from its stockpiles?

    A. July 2026B. October 2026C. January 2024D. March 2025

  4. How much rice did private companies hold at the end of July?

    A. About 1,000 tonsB. About 1.6 million tonsC. About 32 million tonsD. About 4,416 tons

  5. What is expected to happen to supply and demand?

    A. Demand will far exceed supply.B. Rice will run out by winter.C. Supply will far exceed demand.D. Both will fall to zero.

2. True or False　正しければ T、違っていれば F

  1. (     ) The price was 32 yen lower than the previous week.

  2. (     ) Rice prices have risen by about a third since January.

  3. (     ) The 2025 harvest was larger than before.

  4. (     ) Private rice stocks at the end of July were the lowest on record.

3. Fill in the Blanks　下の語から選んで空らんをうめよう（形を変えずに）

harvestreleasedfactorspersupplyemergencies

  1. The government _____ large amounts of rice from its emergency stockpiles, starting in March 2025.

  2. Two main _____ have pushed prices down.

  3. The average price of rice in Japan has dropped below 3,000 yen _____ 5-kilogram bag for the first time in about two years, the agriculture ministry said on September 18.

  4. Such stockpiles are kept for _____ like a poor harvest.

  5. Rice prices began climbing in the summer of 2024, when a _____ shortage hit the country.

  6. Farmers also produced more rice in 2025, and that _____ has now reached stores.

4. Word Order　語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう

  1. ( Two / pushed / factors / have / down / prices / main ) .

  2. ( Since / third / has / a / fallen / about / it / by / then, ) .

  3. ( a / from / shortage / moved / a / to / has / result, / As / a / Japan / surplus ) .

5. Think and Write　英語で答えてみよう

  1. Lower rice prices help shoppers but can hurt farmers. How should the government balance the two? Give your opinion.（コメが安くなると買う人は助かりますが、農家は困ることもあります。国はどうバランスをとるべきでしょう？意見を述べよう。）

  2. Do you think Japan should keep a large stockpile of rice? Why or why not?（日本はコメをたくさん備蓄しておくべきだと思いますか？理由も述べよう。）

Answers　解答

1. (1) C　(2) A　(3) D　(4) B　(5) C

2. (1) T　(2) F　(3) T　(4) F

3. (1) released　(2) factors　(3) per　(4) emergencies　(5) supply　(6) harvest

4.

  1. Two main factors have pushed prices down.
  2. Since then, it has fallen by about a third.
  3. As a result, Japan has moved from a shortage to a surplus.

全文訳

1農林水産省は9月18日、日本のコメの平均価格が5キロあたり3000円を、約2年ぶりに下回ったと発表しました。9月13日までの1週間、約1000のスーパーでの平均価格は1袋2971円でした。これは前の週より32円安い値段です。

2コメは日本の主食なので、その値段はほとんどすべての家庭に関わります。コメの値段は、国内でコメ不足が起きた2024年の夏から上がり始めました。値段は上がり続け、2026年1月に4416円でピークに達しました。それ以降、約3分の1下がりました。

3値段を押し下げた主な理由は2つあります。政府は2025年3月から、非常時のために備えていたコメを大量に市場に出しました。備蓄米は、不作のような非常時のためにとってあるものです。さらに農家は2025年にコメを多く作り、その収穫がいま店に届いています。

4その結果、日本はコメ不足からコメ余りへと変わりました。民間企業が持つコメの在庫は7月末に約160万トンとなり、この時期として過去最高になりました。

5農水省は10月13日、今年の収穫量を約740万トンと見こみ、2025年より1％ほど少ないとしました。それでも、供給は需要を大きく上回る見通しです。そのため、これから数か月でコメの値段がさらに下がる可能性があります。

文法ポイント：関係副詞 when（, when ～）

時を表す語のあとにコンマと when を置き、「そしてそのとき～」と説明を足す。本文の in the summer of 2024, when a supply shortage hit the country は「2024年の夏、そのとき国内でコメ不足が起きた」という意味。

出典：The Japan Times、Nippon.com、The Japan Times、Jiji Press（Nippon.com） ほか（記事は原田英語の時事英語ジュニアのオリジナル）｜https://www.haradaeigo.com/jijieigo-junior/news/2026-09-18-rice-price-below-3000-yen/