Society

Japan to see price hikes in food and tobacco products from October

Oct 01 (Japan Times) - Japan will experience a rise in prices on some food, services and tobacco products from October. Partly due to a spike in global raw material prices, the hike deals a further blow to households hit by fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Starting Friday, dairy producers Meiji Co. and Megmilk Snow Brand Co. will increase the prices of their margarine products as international prices have soared due to a surge in global demand and lowered output in major producing areas due to poor weather.

For Meiji, the retail price will increase by up to 12.8% and the Megmilk Snow Brand will pass on a bump of up to 12.2%.

Food and beverage maker Ajinomoto AGF Inc. is increasing the price of its 40 coffee products, estimating they will soar some 20%.

According to Ajinomoto AGF, it expects the inflated market rate to remain for the time being, citing the anticipated recovery in global demand for coffee with economic activities gradually resuming after the pandemic.

Under the government’s repeated state of emergency declarations over the pandemic since spring last year, people have been asked to refrain from nonessential outings while businesses were asked to temporarily shut down or shorten their operating hours.

Man Stabs Three Near Nagano Station

Three people were attacked near JR Nagano Station at around 8 p.m., leaving a man in his 40s in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest and two others hospitalized.

Nissan to Cut 9,000 Jobs, Focuses Layoffs on Production Sites

Nissan Motor is implementing a workforce reduction plan involving 9,000 employees, with over 70% of the cuts concentrated in production sites, according to a JNN investigation.

Tokyo Cedar Pollen Season Starts Record Early Since 1985

Cedar pollen dispersal in Tokyo began on January 8th, marking the earliest start since monitoring began in 1985, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Japanese Lunar Lander Resilience Launched From Kennedy Space Center

A rocket carrying the lunar lander developed by Japanese space venture ispace was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in the United States.

Foreign visitors to Japan hit record high in 2024

The number of foreign visitors to Japan hit an all-time high last year, topping the annual record set before the coronavirus pandemic. Spending by tourists also reached a record high. (NHK)

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Testing the Spirit in Freezing Waterfalls

Every year, even in the depths of winter, people take on the challenge of waterfall meditation. The reasons vary: to clear their minds, strengthen their spirits, ward off misfortune, or affirm resolutions for a fresh start.

Osaka court awards family full lost wages of girl with disability killed in 2018

A Japanese high court has ruled that the calculation of earnings a girl with a hearing impairment who died in an accident would have made must be 100 percent based on the average income in Japan. (NHK)

Co-pilot Vomits on Plane Just Before Departure

A Japan Airlines (JAL) international flight faced a major delay after one of its pilots was found to have consumed alcohol exceeding the allowable limits the night before departure. Investigations by FNN have revealed conflicting accounts between JAL and the pilot involved regarding the decision to proceed with the flight.