In 2023, 46 varieties of heat-resistant rice, which are less susceptible to high summer temperatures, were planted in 39 prefectures across Japan, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The total cultivation area for heat-resistant rice was 182,869 hectares, a 2.8-fold increase in size from 10 years ago, and the percentage grown for human consumption out of total crops reached 14.7%. These are both record highs.

Rice is native to the subtropics, and its cultivation in Japan has seen a long history of struggle with cold weather damage and a continued need to develop and cultivate cold-resistant varieties. In 1993, unusually low summer temperatures led to severe cold damage, mainly in the Tōhoku and Kantō regions, and rice had to be urgently imported from Thailand, the United States, and other countries.