In Japan's election, voters hope for relief from rising prices

"I remember that a few years ago, 5kg (11lbs) of rice cost around 3,000 yen ($19), but now it costs about 4,000 to 5,000 yen ($25 to $32), Ida told Al Jazeera. My family consumes about 10kg (22lbs) of rice every month, and now we have no choice but to eat pasta or noodles a few times a week to save rice, she said."

"For average Japanese people, making ends meet has become more difficult over the past year amid the persistent failure of wages to keep pace with rising prices. Inflation-adjusted wages fell 2.8 percent in November, the 11th straight month of decline in people's pay cheques, according to Japanese government statistics. While Japan's overall rate of inflation hovers at about 2 to 3 percent, the price of food has been rising much faster."

"Rice prices soared nearly 68 percent last year, the result of shortages caused by a poor harvest in 2023. Prices of imported foods, such as coffee and chocolate, have also risen sharply due to the weak yen, which has sapped consumers' purchasing power. I went to a department store to buy some British tea as a treat, but it was over one and a half times the price from a few years ago,"

Household budgets in Japan are under strain as food prices rise faster than wages. Rice prices have jumped sharply, prompting families to substitute cheaper staples like pasta and noodles. Inflation-adjusted wages fell 2.8 percent in November, marking the 11th consecutive monthly decline in real pay. Overall inflation runs around 2–3 percent, but food inflation is significantly higher, amplified by a poor 2023 harvest and a weak yen. Imported items such as coffee, chocolate and foreign tea have become markedly more expensive. Rising living costs are a central concern for voters ahead of the general election.

Read at www.aljazeera.com