Japan's average price of rice has fallen for the first time after rising for 17 consecutive weeks, government data showed Monday, though it remains near record high amid ongoing supply concerns. Latest data from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries showed that in the week to May 4, the average price of rice sold in supermarkets nationwide fell 0.4 percent from the previous week to 4,214 yen (about 29 U.S. dollars) per five kilograms (kg). "If imported rice tastes good and is more affordable, people might go for it," said a consumer. "If a five-kg bag of rice went back down to around 2,000 yen (about 14 U.S. dollars), it would be much easier for my budget. Right now, I can barely afford it," said another customer. To rein in the rising prices, the Japanese government started releasing reserve rice into the market in March, with plans to continue this monthly through July. However, many stores have yet to receive the cheaper stockpiled rice, and regular five-kg bags remain expensive. "We don't know how much of the reserve rice has actually made it into the market. So far, we haven't received any," said a supermarket manager in the Tokyo metropolitan area. According to Kyodo News, the government plans to roughly double the supply of stockpiled rice to about 600,000 tons and relax bidding conditions for the purchase of its reserve rice, as rice prices remain at near record highs. With prices staying high, several rice-growing regions have expanded their planting areas this year. But industry experts caution that Japan's farming population and ongoing labor shortages make a large-scale production increase unlikely in the near future. Meanwhile, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, Japan's largest group of rice collectors and wholesalers, has raised prepayments for autumn rice harvests by 30 to 40 percent in several major production areas -- a sign that prices may rise further later this year. SHOTLIST: Tokyo, Japan - Recent 1. Various of price tags, bags of rice for sale; 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) consumer (name not given): "If imported rice tastes good and is more affordable, people might go for it." 3. Various of rice for sale, price tags; 4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) consumer (name not given) (ending with shot 5): "If a five-kg bag of rice went back down to around 2,000 yen (about 14 U.S. dollars), it would be much easier for my budget. Right now, I can barely afford it."; 5. Bags of rice for sale; 6. Various of building of Japanese ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; sign reading "Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries"; Japan - Recent 7. Various of rice mill, workers, bags of rice; Tokyo, Japan - Recent 8. Various of bags of rice for sale at supermarket; 9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) manager, supermarket in Tokyo metropolitan area (name not given) (ending with shot 10): "We don't know how much of the reserve rice has actually made it into the market. So far, we haven't received any."; Japan - Recent 10. Various of bags of rice; 11. Various of rice field; farmers at work, controlling drone. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]