写真はわたしが好きでよく買い物させてもらう近所の安売りスーパーさんの電子チラシ。
　わたし自身は先日も書いたように、まだ25kgほどの買い置き備蓄米が自宅にあり、わが家だけのペースだとたぶん半年程度は持つのですが、事務所兼用住宅なので働いてくれているスタッフ（一応離れたので別会社ですが）のために今後、感謝のふるまい握り寿司づくりなどを考えると、もうちょっと早くに足りなくなるかもと、心細いかなぁという心理も持っております。
　なんにせよ、お米は日本人の生活文化の基盤としてあり続けた主食。その主食がどのような市場価格の構造変化で高騰したのか、まだメディアでも識者からも解明の全体像が見えてきていない。早急にこの暴騰プロセスは解明されて欲しいです。この局面ではナタを振るうみたいな立場の政治家は大きなアピールポイントにはなるでしょう。前の利権構造どっぷりのようだった農水大臣の失脚と別人のポピュリスト系新大臣という動きにはそういった「思惑」が表出しているのでしょう。
　まぁ庶民としてはなんとか価格高騰が抑えられ、お米が低価格で潤沢に流通することが希望。
　そういう希望に対して非常にわかりやすい「消費者の願いに沿う」小売店舗の動きには注目が集まる。この局面では消費者心理に的確に対応する店舗が支持を高めるのは間違いがない。ということで、さっそくに「2000円台」の価格で訴求する宣伝チラシであります。「備蓄米という名の古古米ではございません」というメッセージはわかりやすい。まぁわたし自身は古古米に対してあんまり否定的な感覚はありません。
　たしかに知人の宮城県農家から直接、毎年の新米を大量購入してきましたが、それはむしろ農家のみなさんへの応援の気持ちが大きく、新米のおいしさ大好き、という嗜好性ではありません。それよりもお米農家への感謝の気持ちの表現というのに近い心理でした。おいしいのであればさらにウレシイというような心理。
　なので、こうしたスーパーのチラシに表現された米価への庶民の気持ちに、はるかに共感するものです。
　カミさんは、参議院選挙頃に相当に米価は下がっていくだろうという見通し判断。当面のお米というよりも、家庭備蓄の強化が目的であるのでこうした「市場動向」を見据えながら、慎重に購入タイミングを計っていきたいと思います。
　なにより農家のみなさんの経営の安定、庶民の暮らしの安定実現を。

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English version⬇

Has the outburst of public anger over soaring rice prices begun?
The retailers’ direct response to the anger of the general public at the soaring rice prices is the focus of attention. The flyer expresses the sentiment that one cannot survive if one is insensitive to this phase. …

　The photo is an electronic flyer from a local supermarket that I like to shop at.
　As I wrote the other day, I still have 25 kg of stockpiled rice at home, which will probably last for about half a year at the pace of my own home, but when I think about making nigiri sushi for my staff (who work for a different company, since we have moved away from the office) in the future, I am not sure if I will run out anytime soon. I am also worried that we may run out of rice a little sooner than I would like.
　Whatever the case may be, rice is a staple food that has remained the foundation of Japanese life and culture. We have yet to see the whole picture of how this staple food has skyrocketed in price due to structural changes in the market price, either from the media or from intellectuals. I would like to see this runaway process clarified as soon as possible. It would be a great appeal point for politicians who are in a position to take a machete to the ground during this phase. The loss of the former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, who seemed to be full of interest structures, and the appointment of a new populist minister, who is a different person, may be indicative of such “speculation”.
　Well, as for the common people, their hope is that the price hike will be somehow controlled and rice will be distributed in abundance at a low price.
　The moves of retail stores that “follow the wishes of consumers” are very understandable in response to such hopes are attracting a lot of attention. There is no doubt that stores that accurately respond to consumer sentiment will gain support in this phase. So, here is an advertising flyer that immediately appeals with a price in the “2,000-yen range. The message is easy to understand: “This is not old rice in the name of stockpiling. Well, I myself am not too negative about old rice.
　I have purchased a large amount of new rice every year directly from a farmer in Miyagi Prefecture whom I know, but that is more out of support for the farmers, and not out of a preference for the deliciousness of new rice. It was more like an expression of gratitude to the rice farmers. If the rice is delicious, it is even more gratifying.
　Therefore, I am much more sympathetic to the feelings of the general public toward the price of rice expressed in these supermarket flyers.
　Kami made the judgment that the price of rice will probably drop considerably around the time of the House of Councillors election. Since our goal is not so much to buy rice for the time being, but rather to strengthen our household stockpile, we would like to carefully consider the timing of our purchases while keeping an eye on these “market trends”.
　We hope that farmers will be able to stabilize their business and the lives of the general public will become more stable.

Notice
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Posted on 5月 31st, 2025 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 日本社会・文化研究