A-ru-wai・Beikoku nendo

【English】

RY; Rice Year

【Japanese】

RY・米穀年度

The “Rice Year” relates to the trading of rice in Japan. It runs from November 1^st until October 31^st of the following year. The Rice Year runs from year’s end, but it is named for the calendar year in which it finishes. This differs from the way the Financial Year (Kaikei-nendo, FY), running from April 1^st one year until March 31^st the next, is handled. 2014 RY (or RY Heisei 26) ran from November 1^st, 2013 to October 31^st, 2014, whereas 2014 FY was from April 1^st, 2014 until March 31^st, 2015.

The Rice Year is based on the harvest, which in years past started around November: this is why it was set to begin on November 1^st. However, the harvest season has become earlier in recent years, finishing in September or October, so the period of the Rice Year is now somewhat out of step with reality.