U.S. Growers Defy Odds, Promote Rice in Japan

Rice producers from the United States are trying to promote American-grown rice in Japan, a country where imported rice cannot even be given away.

The U.S. rice industry group began promoting its product here Wednesday despite Japan’s total ban on commercial imports of the staple grain.

In Japan, any public use of foreign rice is prohibited by the food control law, and regulations even limit the amount that individuals can bring into the country. This prevents the U.S. Rice Millers Assn. from even giving away free samples as it promotes its product.

The U.S. rice group is attending an international food convention here.