In Japan, rice – the heart of many meals 🍚 – is now sliding out of reach for many. For the 13th week in a row, 5 kilograms of rice have topped 4,000 yen ($25.53), putting strain on household budgets across the archipelago.
This surge comes as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushes ahead with plans to boost defense spending. In recent months, her administration has earmarked new funds for advanced missile systems and allied training exercises amid a shifting security landscape.
Residents say they've been forced to make tough choices: “We're deciding between rice and other essentials,” says Kenji, a 42-year-old office worker in Osaka. “Paying rent and bills is already hard enough; now, daily meals feel like a luxury.”
At local markets from Hokkaido to Kyushu, shoppers are trading down to cheaper rice blends or cutting back on servings. Small restaurants are feeling the pinch too, with some swapping costlier Japanese varieties for imported alternatives.
Balancing Priorities 🔄
Experts note that while national security is crucial, social welfare can't be overlooked. “Economic policies need a holistic approach,” says Yuko Tanaka, an economist at Tokyo University. “When staples become unaffordable, it hits low- and middle-income families the hardest.”
With the government set to finalize next year's budget in early 2026, many are calling for measures to ease food costs: from subsidies for rice farmers to temporary price controls. Whether policymakers heed these calls remains to be seen.
This situation highlights a central question for Japan: how to protect its future without sacrificing the daily needs of its citizens. For now, families are left weighing rice against defense, hoping for a solution that won't force them to skip meals.
Reference(s):
Rice or defense? Japan's residents feel the cost of militarization
cgtn.com
