What is Special A Grade Rice?

Introduction to Japan's Rice Grading System

Japan's Rice Taste Ranking (米の食味ランキング) has been conducted every year by the Japan Grain Inspection Association since the 1971 crop, giving it over 50 years of history; the Special A grade was introduced with the 1989 crop.

Grading Categories

Each sample is compared with the reference rice and placed in one of five grades:

• Special A: Particularly better than the reference rice; the top grade
• A: Better than the reference rice
• A': About the same as the reference rice
• B: Slightly inferior to the reference rice
• B': Inferior to the reference rice

Special A Grade Criteria

The following six items are each compared with the reference rice:

1. Appearance (見た目): Luster and uniformity of grains
2. Aroma (香り): Intensity and quality of fragrance
3. Taste (味): Balance of sweetness and umami
4. Stickiness (粘り): Appropriate level of adhesiveness
5. Hardness (硬さ): Texture - soft yet firm
6. Overall Evaluation (総合評価): General impression

Evaluation Process

1. Professional Evaluators: Professional evaluators selected and trained by the Japan Grain Inspection Association taste the rice
2. Reference Rice: A blend of Koshihikari from multiple production areas (not rice from one specific area)
3. Relative Evaluation: Each sample is compared with the reference rice and rated Special A, A, A', B or B' according to the difference; there is no point score
4. Annual Review: Conducted yearly; same variety may receive different ratings each year

Why is Special A Grade Important?

Rigorous Evaluation

• Rigorously evaluated by professional evaluators
• Means rice of that variety and area was rated especially good against the reference rice for that crop year
• Reliable indicator for consumers seeking premium Japanese rice

Scarcity

• Not all varieties achieve Special A rating
• For the 2025 crop (the latest), 43 of 144 production-area/variety combinations nationwide received Special A
• Hokkaido's Yumepirika received Special A for 15 consecutive years (2011–2025 crops)

Price Premium

• Special A grade rice typically commands higher prices

Sanponashi's Special A Hokkaido Varieties

Every Hokkaido variety we carry has earned a Special A rating in Japan's annual rice taste ranking:

Yumepirika (夢美人)

• Special A for 15 consecutive years (2011–2025 crops)
• Rich sweetness, just the right stickiness

Nanatsuboshi (七星米)

• Special A for 16 consecutive years (2010–2025 crops)
• Largest cultivated variety in Hokkaido
• Refreshing taste, delicious even when cold

Fukkurinko (福臨米)

• Special A for the 2015 and 2016 crops and the 2019–2022 crops (4 consecutive years from 2019 to 2022)
• Soft and chewy, great for bento

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Source: Japan Grain Inspection Association, Rice Taste Ranking (2025 crop, published February 2026) Updated: October 2026