A few weeks ago we talked about the paradox in Japan. The world wants more and more wasabi, but the country is not in a position to provide it, due to the deep crisis it is in, the lack of generational change, and an economy where interest rates have increased for the first time in 17 years. To all this we must add a new problem. There are few things that worry people more than not being able to make ends meet, such as stocking up on the ingredients to cook their favorite meal. And it is happening in Japan.

Curry rice. In reality, the wasabi problem is a “first cousin” to the star-studded cooking in Japanese homes. The reason: The cost of making Japanese curry rice in the country has hit an unprecedented 10-year high due to two separate crises: a weak yen and a rice shortage caused by a heat wave.

Family economy of a plate. We’re talking about a delicious dish, but the ease of preparation and affordability of the ingredients have made curry rice one of the absolute kings of Japanese cuisine for years. If a Japanese person was looking to stretch their budget at the end of the month, making a big pot of curry roux with some vegetables and meat was an easy way to stock up on nutritious food for the next few days without spending too much money.

Plus, because of its delicious flavor and how easy it is to make a big batch at once (and reheat leftovers), curry rice is especially popular with families with kids, as well as those who live alone and don’t have time to cook every day.

Study. Perhaps that is why this news is a clear symptom of the crisis in the country. This was proven by a study conducted by the economic research company Teikoku Data Bank. Analyzing the retail price statistics published by the Japanese government’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the newspaper estimated that the cost of cooking curry rice at home has reached the highest price in the last decade.

How did they analyze the rise? To do this, the cost of six ingredients was calculated: rice, curry roux (about half a stick for a single serving), carrots, potatoes, imported meat, and cooking oil. The study also included the cost of water and electricity used to cook rice in the rice cooker (although the gas and electricity used to cook the roux, vegetables, and meat were not taken into account).

Results. According to the study, the cost of cooking a single serving of Japanese curry rice is 329 yen. That’s an increase of 30 yen from June 2023 and the highest since 2015. Not only that, the study predicts that the cost of cooking this staple will peak next month (it’s expected to rise to 340 yen per serving, based on price trends in Tokyo’s 23 wards). Here are the prices for the ingredients:

• Meat and vegetables: 203 yen (20 yen more than prices in June 2023)
• Rice: 97 yen (8 yen more than June 2023)
• Curry roux: 25 yen (1 yen more than June 2023)
• Water/electricity: 4 yen (same as June 2023)

Factors of increase. The study points to two factors as key drivers of the increase. On the one hand, there are high prices for imported vegetables and beef, “driven by the weak yen.” For decades, domestic Japanese beef producers have focused on producing premium-priced beef, meaning imported beef is a more affordable option. While the weakness of the yen means buyers in Japan have to pay more for this imported meat, the price of Japanese meat has not fallen and remains prohibitive for most households.

On the other hand, “rice prices have also increased rapidly due to supply shortages caused by last summer’s extreme heat.” In the second case, they note that the heat wave in 2023 caused a deterioration in rice quality, resulting in the formation of “fuzzy” varieties with cracked grains, thus contributing to the supply deficit. The decrease in production has led to an increase in prices.

Solution. While the 30 yen increase in the price of curry rice per person (from 299 yen to 329 yen) may not seem like much, when you’re talking about something that represents several meals, this 10% increase in price can have a big impact. It’s sold out every month in a typical Japanese household, and as we said, the price is expected to increase further.

Demography. The curry rice incident is another symptom of what’s happening in the country, and the lack of generational change means many crops could be affected. One example: The New York Times reported that the amount of wasabi produced in Japan has fallen by about 55% in a decade.

In fact, a study on the subject in Nature in 2021 warned sailors. “More than 60% of the agricultural population in Japan is over 65 years old. The rapid aging of the agricultural society will not only reduce the country’s food self-sufficiency percentage, but will also lead to a decrease in domestic agricultural activities and thus a decrease in food consumption and income”.

And the weather. Moreover, dedicated farmers have been warning for some time about the effects of climate change and how vulnerable fields and crops are. For example, in 2019 eastern Japan was hit by a typhoon that reduced production in the Okutama region by almost 70%.

In addition to the risk of storms, rising temperatures, as we have seen, make crops more susceptible to mold and rot, exposing them to values ​​well above the limits considered appropriate for their healthy development.

Image | Who Cares?, Ari Helminen

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