Chapter 217
The kanji that symbolizes this year is definitely "米rice " . President Trump's "米rice " and the staple food "米rice ". Why is the United States, which is not a major rice producing country, described as 米rice in Japanese? It comes from the kanji "米rice利権". Now, the rice turmoil of the Reiwa era will not be solved even by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi Shinjiro's 5th wholesaler skip. In the first place, the rise in rice prices is in line with the government's inflation policy, and with the prices of other ingredients such as meat, fish, and vegetables rising across the board, it does not seem like something to get upset about. When I heard that the retail price of 5 kg of stockpiled rice is 2,000 yen, I remember that when I cooked at home 15 years ago, Niigata Koshihikari branded rice was over 4,500 yen. Rice varies depending on the place of origin, so even if it is rice from an unknown place like stockpiled rice, 2,000 yen is too cheap. Branded rice should be purchased by consumers who recognize its value, even if it costs 10,000 yen or 20,000 yen. If we want branded rice to be cheaper, Japan should become a socialist country and have a rationing system. This kind of discussion is likely to arise because Japan is becoming impoverished, but the simplistic idea that inflationary policies will increase the incomes of poor families is mistaken. 100-yen shops still have a lineup of attractive products that can be bought for 100 yen. They sell them for 100 yen because they have a system in place that makes them viable at 100 yen, and there is a trick that makes consumers get lured in by the low price and end up buying too much. Thanks to Agriculture Minister Koizumi, the day when rice will also be available at 100-yen shops may be approaching . Secondary to fifth-tier wholesalers can just compete for stingy margins. This sounds like a laughing matter to 100-yen shops and clothing companies like Uniqlo, Shimamura, and Workman, who have developed their businesses through low prices. The part-time hourly wage of 3,000 yen at a restaurant in Kumamoto that attracted TSMC became a hot topic, but in rural areas where there is already a shortage of staff, if they are going to pay part-time workers 3,000 yen, they would have to run a high-end sushi restaurant without a price list to make it work. I am certain that the part-time hourly wage at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant will never be 3,000 yen, whether in the countryside or in the city. In the first place, even Taiwanese semiconductor company TSMC is exposed to fierce international competition. Although business is booming now and part-time workers can be paid 3,000 yen per hour, the demand and supply will be uncertain once the factory starts operating, so there's no guarantee that it won't become a ghost town. I watched a movie called "The Apprentice" (director: Ali Abbasi, distributor: Kino Films) on Amazon Prime Video. Young Trump learns the basics of business from Roy Cohn, a shrewd lawyer who will do anything to win. How did a novice Trump with no money or credibility build Trump Tower and the casinos in Atlantic City? You'll have to watch the movie to find out, but I even felt that the Yakuza and the Mafia were much more orderly. It's a chilling feeling, but if you watch this movie, you'll understand why 78-year-old Trump was so determined to be re-elected as president. Huge debts, numerous lawsuits that were sure to be lost, etc. The only way he could survive was to be re-elected as president. He should have lost, but he will do anything to win. After watching this movie, I realized that the shooting incident during the presidential election and the scene of him raising his fist were staged to win. But I don't mean to say it's outrageous. Many voters felt that in order to win in a chaotic world, they needed a president who would stop at nothing. There is a difference in scale between USA and Japan who make a big fuss over the price of rice. Japan needs a prime minister who can go toe-to-toe with a president like Trump.
The rice section of the Marunaka supermarket in Naruto City. Koshihikori branded rice from Niigata costs 5,480 yen.” Photo taken on June 4th.
June 4, 2025
The "Two 米Rice" Controversies of the Reiwa Era
