Ostrich for dinner? Shaky beef supply, shortage of rice ram home Japan’s food security fears

Supermarket shelves across Japan were also emptied of rice, a staple in the Japanese diet, for weeks this summer. - PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO (The Straits Times/ANN): Yoshinoya, the famous gyudon (beef bowl) chain, served up ostrich rice bowls as a limited-time menu option in late August, looking to the flightless bird as a means to stabilise volatile beef supplies.

For a country renowned worldwide for its exquisite washoku or traditional cuisine and premium high-quality produce, Japan suffers from dire food security challenges at home.