Why Is Everything in Japan Getting More Expensive?

If you live here in Japan (or have been in Japan recently), you’ve probably noticed that prices are creeping up everywhere — at the supermarket, at restaurants, and even on utility bills. The latest buzzword? “Cabbage shock” — because a head of cabbage now costs three times more than it did last year! (That’ about ¥350, or US$2.35, in case you’re wondering…)

But of course, it’s not just cabbage. Inflation is hitting food, electricity, and everyday essentials — and many of us are feeling it.

What’s Behind the Rising Prices?

In my Japan Today Spotlight episode on the subject, I break down what’s driving Japan’s price hikes:

  • Food Prices Are Soaring – Rice is up 70%, and electricity bills have jumped 18%. Not great news for anyone who enjoys eating… or having the lights on.
  • The Weak Yen – Japan relies heavily on imports, and with the yen being so low, imported goods — from groceries to fuel — are getting much pricier.
  • Extreme Weather & Crop Issues – Last summer’s heatwave, heavy rain, and even record snowfall have damaged crops, making fruits and vegetables more expensive.
  • Shrinkflation & Business Struggles – Have you noticed snack packages getting smaller while prices stay the same (or go up)? That’s shrinkflation. Restaurants are also serving smaller portions, and some are even closing down because they just can’t keep up.

How Are People Adapting?

It seems like everyone has their own strategy to deal with higher prices. Some are cooking at home more  (this is a big change for younger Japanese adults who haven’t started families — more on that in an upcoming post!). Others are hunting for late-night supermarket discounts, and I’ve even had people tell me in the comments that they are now bicycling long distances to budget stores like Gyomu Super to save a few yen.

Meanwhile, tourists keep convenience stores busy, even as locals find them a bit pricey.

Watch the Full Breakdown

I go into more details in the Japan Today Spotlight video. If you’re curious about how Japan’s inflation is playing out, check it out here:

Watch: Japan’s Rising Prices – What’s Causing Inflation?

A man in a brown blazer sits at a desk with an expressive look, discussing Japan’s inflation crisis. A large inset image shows cabbages with high price tags in a Japanese supermarket. The text overlay reads: ‘Cabbage Shock – Japan’s Prices Are Surging — Here’s Why!

Cabbage Shock?! Japan’s Prices Are Surging — Here’s Why! Watch now to see what’s driving the rising cost of living.

What’s Next?

The government is trying to push for wage increases, but so far, salaries aren’t keeping pace with rising prices. With more price hikes expected and big labor negotiations coming up, we might be in for more surprises.

How are you handling higher prices in Japan (or wherever you are)? Have you changed your spending habits? Let’s chat in the comments!

PM Shigeru Ishiba’s Trump Meeting: What’s the Real Game Here for Japan?

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s newest prime minister, met with Donald Trump on Feb. 7, 2025.

Now that’s a political move I didn’t see coming — not from him, anyway. He’s been trying and failing for months since his election. Ishiba has spent years as the LDP’s resident outsider, the guy who critiques from within but never quite gets the backing to lead. And now he’s cozying up to Trump? Interesting.

Let’s be real — Trump isn’t exactly known for having a nuanced grasp of Japan’s internal politics. If you’re a Japanese politician meeting with him, it’s not about deep policy discussions. It’s about optics, influence and signaling to power players back home. So what’s Ishiba’s angle? Is he trying to rebrand himself as a bridge to Trump’s Republican circle? Or is this just a case of “why not?” — a move to keep his name in the headlines while Japan’s political future remains uncertain?

In my latest “Japan Today Spotlight” video, I break down what this meeting could mean.

Here’s something, though, I didn’t say on camera: Ishiba has always played the long game, but his moment never quite arrives. Now that it’s arrived, could this finally be his way of forcing relevance?

Check out the video here:

Shigeru Ishiba met with Donald Trump — what’s the real strategy behind this move?

What do you think — smart move or just another round of political chess with no endgame?

A Shocking Tragedy in Saitama

This week, I covered a deeply concerning incident in Japan — something that really shook people here, both literally and emotionally. A massive sinkhole opened up in Saitama, swallowing a car and tragically taking a man’s life. It’s the kind of story that makes you stop and think about the unseen risks beneath our feet.

In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, I dive into what happened, the possible causes and why Japan — despite its reputation for strong infrastructure — still faces these kinds of disasters. If you’re curious about life in Japan beyond the usual headlines, I think you’ll find this one eye-opening.

Watch the episode here:

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you know someone interested in Japan, feel free to share!

Stay safe and take care.

Why The New Twitter Design Requires Brands To Think

twitter-2010-03-20The “new” Twitter was rolled out only last month, and I’m sure this redesign reflects the fact that a majority of Twittererers out there don’t actually log in and use the Twitter site anymore. The more mainstream microblogging becomes, the more people prefer to use stand alone desktop clients and mobile apps like HootSuite or TweetDeck (or any others in a long line of concatenated social media management brand names) to do what they need to do as quickly as possible.  [Read more…]

Rockin’ On and Off the Radar

Red Marquee FRF 2008

Red Marquee FRF 2008

Yes, yes…I have been woefully neglectful of this little site lately.

I have, though (to make myself feel better) been active other wheres though.  [Read more…]

Small Victories and Social Media

Small VictoriesI’ve read and heard about the power of social media as a service, especially when it comes to brands, as Chris Brogan says, “growing bigger ears” to monitor what people (especially customers) are saying about them. But I’ve never experienced this first hand until this morning. My fifteen minutes of gain. Here’s a small example of how social media helped little, old me.  [Read more…]

Japan: Ahead and Behind

Japanese mobile phone

Japanese mobile phone

I have been putting social media strategy in place for Cabana Bar & Grill, a local establishment here in Yokohama.

Since I am trying to attract Japanese and foreign clients, I’ve come to the conclusion that when it comes to social media and branding (and more importantly, mobile media), Japan is both ahead and behind.  [Read more…]

Silver and Gold

Team Canada pose after defeating the U.S. in the women's hockey gold medal game at the Vancouver 2010 Winter OlympicsI watched the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics women’s ice hockey gold medal game this morning.

As a Canadian and a hockey fanatic, of course I was overjoyed that the Canadian women won the gold medal with a convincing and dominating win over their biggest rivals, the U.S. women’s squad. All of the team’s training, effort and resiliency paid off. All of their hard work. Their dedication. Now, finally, they can head to the podium to receive their reward. That reward? Something more important than the medal itself—the pride and thanks of a nation where hockey approaches religion. The satisfaction of knowing that, right now, at that very moment, they are the absolute best in the world at what they do.

But what of the losers of that match? The jubilation of the Olympic gold medal winners stood in stark contrast to the sad and somber faces of the American women, many of whom were distraught, tears streaming down their faces beneath their visors. These silver medalists are still, after all, the cream of the crop. As elite as it can get. And it struck me: nowhere but the Olympics is it more apparent that being second just doesn’t cut it.

In this day and age, if you’re not firing on all cylinders, digging deep and giving it everything you’ve got— you won’t be heading to the podium. You’ll be the “also ran.”

Think about that the next time you get cynical about social media and whether or not you should be using it for your business or brand.

Whisky Undead 2010

Ichiro's Malt at Whisky Live.

Ichiro’s Malt at Whisky Live.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow. I guess that’s really three days, but for me it’s a countdown.  [Read more…]