East Asia suffers through rainy and cloudy summer

TOKYO: While Europe swelters through one its hottest spells on record, much of East Asia is suffering just the opposite – an unusually cool and cloudy summer that has ruined vacations and prompted experts to predict some of the worst harvests of rice and vegetables in decades. 

Persistent clouds and showers in Japan have driven up the price of produce by as much as 120%, along with cutting into sales of hot-weather staples like beer and air conditioners.