Raising concern: Bags of polished rice for sale at a supermarket corner in Tokyo. The price of the grain has rocketed for months due to shortages. — AFP
The price of rice doubled in Japan in the 12 months to May, data showed, as an acceleration in inflation piled fresh pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of key elections next month.
Polls for parliament’s upper house are crucial for Ishiba after public support for his administration tumbled to its lowest level since he took office in October, partly because of frustration over the cost of living.
