July 16, 2025 - Inflation Panic!

 When I was a student, I used to eat a bowl of ramen for 400 yen at a shop near my house. It was a small local ramen shop, and I often went there after school with friends. The ramen was 400 yen so it felt very reasonable. Now, the same ramen costs 700 yen. The taste and size are the same, but only the price became higher. I feel it is not fair and disappointing because nothing else improved.

I also noticed shrink flation in daily life. For example, I used to buy mini anpan. It was 160 yen for five pieces, and I often ate them as a snack during breaks. But now, it is only four pieces for the same price. That made me very surprised and confused because the package design did not change.

Another example is the pizza at Saizeriya. It used to be bigger, but now it looks like only two-thirds of the original size. They even changed the plate to make it look the same. I think this is also a kind of shrinkflation.

I think the reason for this is the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, prices went up and never went down. I don’t know much about economics, but I feel we just had to get used to it.

Now, the cost of living in Japan is almost the same as in other countries. Before, Japan was cheaper. To save money, I started cooking by myself and I do not eat out so often.