Rice acreage of Japan has been highly decreased due to a rapid reduction of rice con-sumption. Tbus a research strategy has shifted from high yield to utilization and increase consumption. The highest eating quality of rice varieties has proven with 'Koshihikari' among consumers which was occupied of 36.6% over the whole rice cultivated land area. Major 5 rice breeding strategies were eating quality, grain quality, resistance to disease and insect, adaptability for direct seeding, and yield. In addi-tion, there were concentrating on research activities such as low amylose rice, low glutelin rice for increase rate of hard digestion, giant embryo rice varieties for control blood pressure, low allergen rice, colored rice, aroma rice, and rice varieties for whole crop silage use.