Solutions Vary - Definition of Happiness 米価格高騰の解決策?!

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Rice prices are soaring in Japan. The average price for 5 kilograms of rice is nearly or even higher than JPY5,000, more than double the price at the same time last year. 

Consumers and businesses have taken actions. People have reduced rice consumption by eating more wheat foods, such as bread and pasta, or given up on buying Japanese rice and becoming interested in imported rice. The taste of Japanese and imported rice is compared, concluding in most cases almost no difference, helping alter the persisting negative perception of imported rice. Businesses also have been racking their brains to come up with ideas that address the situation. A convenience store chain has doubled the production of onigiri rice balls without nori seaweed to avoid increasing onigiri prices although this may hit the financials of nori seaweed producers. 

There's another discussion going on - whether or not the rice price of less than JPY3,000 for 5 kilograms proposed by Agriculture Minister Koizumi is appropriate. It's been said that rice farmers have been struggling to make enough money to provide for families. Rice policies, including Japan's rice acreage-reduction policy, which was in place for nearly 50 years from 1970 to 2017, is under scrutiny. Rice farmers also raise their voices, especially newcomers who try to aggregate small paddy fields into larger one to make rice production more efficient, but they face resistance from landowners who used to produce rice but not any more. Many of the owners are reluctant to rent land for some reason and want to keep it even unattended.

In my case, I've been increasing daily protein intake, e.g., chicken, fish, cheese, and milk (including soy milk). This solution works for me because I like rice but not as much as someone who can't spend a day without eating rice. 

A few days ago, I was watching a news program, which also took up the rising rice prices. A reporter was in a grocery store to ask customers there about their solutions to address the rice shortage. One woman answered she'd cut rice purchases while another woman said she didn't but went to say she'd started to buy imported rice for her teenage children, who ate a lot. The third interviewee was a man in his 60s or older. He said he'd been at a loss at first but come up with a solution and then he proudly showed something, a sushi box which contained 10 pieces of nigiri sushi or so. 

I couldn't see the price tag but obviously buying sushi boxes (almost every day?) should cost more than buying raw rice. But the man was smiling, looking so happy and confident and satisfied with the solution. The reporter didn't ask him for a further explanation. I don't know he's happy because he finds the solution economically satisfying or just enjoying eating sushi every day with the excuse of soaring rice prices but his big smile was so impressive and may tell something important. Those who believe shall be saved!

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米の価格高騰、治まりませんね。小泉農相が2,000円台を叫んでいますが実現するのでしょうか。

先日ニュースを見ているとやはり話題は米。レポーターがスーパーでインタビューしてました。最初の女性客は米を買うのを控え、パンやパスタでしのいでいるとのこと。次の女性は国産米ではなく輸入米を買うようになったとのこと。3人目は中年男性。最初は困ったけど今は解決したとのことで見せてくれたのが何と寿司セット。10巻ぐらい入っていたと思います。

えっ。。。毎日握りずしセット買ってたら米買うより高いでしょ!と笑ってしまったのですが、その男性とっても幸せそう。もしかしたら米の値上がりに乗じてお寿司食べるのがうれしいのかしら。いずれにしても解決策は様々。幸せも様々だと思いました。

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