【Objective】The aim of this study is to analyze and understand the development status of japonica rice quality in the Yangtze River Delta region of China, as well as the differences of rice qualities among Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. 【Method】After collecting a total of 11 310 japonica rice varieties grown in Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang provinces between 2002 and 2022, grain length, length-to-width ratio, brown rice rate, milled rice rate, head rice rate, chalkiness, chalky grain rate, transparency, apparent amylose content, gel consistency, alkali spreading value and protein content were analyzed. Principal component analysis was carried out to explore the quality characteristics of japonica rice cultivated in Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. 【Results】The results revealed that the grain shape and head rice rate of japonica rice planted in Jiangsu Province were relatively stable during 2002−2022. The chalkiness level fluctuated between 3.06% and 4.93% from 2002 to 2019, and their average value and variation range decreased significantly from 2020 to 2022. The average apparent amylose content in 2012 and 2013 decreased by approximately 2% than the last year, and eventually stabilized between 13.2% and 14.8%. In Zhejiang Province, the grain shape of japonica rice gradually shifted towards longer grains since 2012. The head rice rate exhibited a zigzag pattern, with higher annual averages occurring between 2011 and 2014, and lowers between 2018 and 2022. The chalkiness level showed a zigzag fluctuation from 2002 to 2006, peaked between 2007 and 2015, and then gradually declined in 2016−2018 and 2019−2022. Except for the period from 2013 to 2017, the average apparent amylose content fluctuated between 15.3% and 16.8%, and japonica rice varieties with lower apparent amylose content emerged since 2016. In Anhui Province, the grain shape of japonica rice began to shift towards longer grains from 2020. The decline in head rice rate could be clearly divided into three stages: 2003−2009, 2010−2014, and 2018−2022. The chalkiness level initially rose and then fell, peaking between 2008 and 2014. The apparent amylose content undergone two distinct stages: a period of significant fluctuations from 2002 to 2012, followed by a phase of minor fluctuations and stabilization from 2013 to 2022. The high quality rate of transparency exceeded 80% in most years across all three provinces. Other indicators such as protein content, brown rice rate, milled rice rate, alkali spreading value, and gel consistency did not show significant differences among japonica rice varieties cultivated in the Yangtze River Delta region. 【Conclusions】The quality of japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta is gradually improving in appearance and palatability. The japonica rice in Jiangsu Province had shorter grain length, lower apparent amylose content and longer gel consistency with excellent processing and appearance qualities. The japonica rice in Zhejiang Province had poor appearance and processing quality, with the grain shape gradually becoming longer and gel consistency and alkali spreading value being relatively small. Anhui Province is intermediate between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in grain shape and other quality traits.