Not listed in the article but, starting around corona, price increases started happening all over the place. Russia’s attack on Ukraine also caused price increases here for a number of reasons. Rice is now around double what it was a year ago (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/3949/ – some general price increase, also shortages due to weather and shitty planning). The news keeps talking about price increases every month. Wages? Hardly budging. People are getting a lower quality of life for the same amount of work so of course the desire to put up with bullshit is dropping.
Now, if people would vote for anyone else, we might see something happen. Voter turnout is terrible in Japan. As a non-citizen, I can’t vote so nothing I can do there. (Technically, there are some local elections that non-citizens can vote in (I think all requiring permanent residency permits) but nothing at an upper level).
One big reason rice is expensive is the 700% tariff Japan has on foreign rice. Another reason is the government hoarding the rice supply so they can overcharge for it. For Japanese Government, see Yakuza. Look on your store shelves for Thai rice, American rice, Indian rice, or any other rice from major rice exporting countries. You won’t find it.
It’s protectionism and, yes, that’s part of what I meant by “shitty planning” above. There is American, Thai, Indian, and Korean rice here now. Calrose is a popular one. Same is true for butter and similar things here.
What stores are you finding foreign rice in? I need to know. I only see Japanese rice at my local supermarkets and it is around 6000 yen for 5 kilograms. 5 kilogram bags not available most of the time. I see a lot of 2 kilogram bags. Near me, I have Ozam, Alps, Seiyu, and Inageya.
I live in the rural Tohoku inaka and personally mostly get genmai from Costco (which I prefer over white rice). Online stores (Rakuten, Kakuyasu, amazon, etc.) have it. For in-person, it’s what I’ve seen people talking about and seen mentioned on the news.
Not listed in the article but, starting around corona, price increases started happening all over the place. Russia’s attack on Ukraine also caused price increases here for a number of reasons. Rice is now around double what it was a year ago (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/3949/ – some general price increase, also shortages due to weather and shitty planning). The news keeps talking about price increases every month. Wages? Hardly budging. People are getting a lower quality of life for the same amount of work so of course the desire to put up with bullshit is dropping.
Now, if people would vote for anyone else, we might see something happen. Voter turnout is terrible in Japan. As a non-citizen, I can’t vote so nothing I can do there. (Technically, there are some local elections that non-citizens can vote in (I think all requiring permanent residency permits) but nothing at an upper level).
One big reason rice is expensive is the 700% tariff Japan has on foreign rice. Another reason is the government hoarding the rice supply so they can overcharge for it. For Japanese Government, see Yakuza. Look on your store shelves for Thai rice, American rice, Indian rice, or any other rice from major rice exporting countries. You won’t find it.
It’s protectionism and, yes, that’s part of what I meant by “shitty planning” above. There is American, Thai, Indian, and Korean rice here now. Calrose is a popular one. Same is true for butter and similar things here.
Edit: I accidentally a word.
What stores are you finding foreign rice in? I need to know. I only see Japanese rice at my local supermarkets and it is around 6000 yen for 5 kilograms. 5 kilogram bags not available most of the time. I see a lot of 2 kilogram bags. Near me, I have Ozam, Alps, Seiyu, and Inageya.
I live in the rural Tohoku inaka and personally mostly get genmai from Costco (which I prefer over white rice). Online stores (Rakuten, Kakuyasu, amazon, etc.) have it. For in-person, it’s what I’ve seen people talking about and seen mentioned on the news.