News in Easy English: Japan gives more free rice to children's meal groups and food banks

The Mainichi

30-06-2025

TOKYO -- Japan's government will give more free rice to groups such as food banks and "children's cafeterias." These give free or low-cost meals to children who need them.
The announcement was made on June 24 by Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. This is because rice prices became high, and fewer people have been able to give rice to these groups.
Usually, groups can ask for free rice only in February and August. But this year, food banks can also ask from July 14 to Aug. 1. Children's cafeterias and groups that bring meals to kids can also ask for rice two extra times. Normally they can only ask five times each year.
Koizumi said, "Groups already have rice for this summer. But with more free rice from the government, they can feel safer about having enough rice even after summer."
(Japanese original by Hajime Nakatsugawa and Toru Watanabe, Business News Department)
Vocabulary
government: the group of people who lead a country
food bank: a group that gives food to people who don't have enough
children's cafeteria: a place where children can eat meals for free or cheaply
announcement: something important that is told to everyone
price: the amount of money needed to buy something
extra: more than usual