Japanese panic buy rice as shortage hits, government urges calm
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The Japanese government is urging citizens to remain calm as panic buying of rice continues across the country. This surge in demand for the staple food has been triggered by multiple factors including the threat of a megaquake, a series of typhoons, and a week-long national holiday. A supermarket employee in Tokyo told news agency AFP that they could only procure half their usual summer stock of rice, leading to rapid sell-outs.