Several kinds of ‘Umaibo’, a popular Japanese corn snack, are seen at a store in Tokyo, Japan January 25, 2022. (REUTERS/Akira Tomoshige)
The cost of a well-loved snack in Japan is increasing for the first time in over 40 years.
Umaibo corn puff was introduced in Japan in 1979. Its name means “delicious stick.” People have loved Umaibo for many years for its special crunch and its 10-yen price. One Japanese yen is less than one U.S. cent – or one-hundredth of a dollar.
The maker of Umaibo, Yaokin Corp, is increasing the price to 12 yen. The snack’s first-ever price increase will begin in April.
The price change is a reminder that Japan is feeling the effects of rising costs of raw materials and transportation. Prices of goods have been rising in many countries. But Japanese companies have so far avoided increasing prices out of fear of losing buyers.
Longtime fans of Umaibo are surprised and saddened by the cost change.
“Umaibo have been the same price for so long, so a 2-yen increase is a big deal,” 59-year-old Noriko Eda told Reuters. “I was surprised.”
Umaibo come in 15 flavors, or tastes, such as cheese, seasoned fish egg and creamy corn soup.
Around 700 million of the crunchy sticks are sold each year. The cost has stayed so low that even children can buy themselves Umaibo. For many Japanese, the snack reminds them of when they were young.
Takeshi Nemoto has been in charge of purchasing snacks at Tokyo snack shop Kawahara Shoten for many years. He said other snack manufacturers may also have to raise prices.
“There’s nothing we can do,” he said. “From the manufacturer’s point of view they can’t stay profitable anymore unless they raise the price.”
Some fans of Umaibo saw the change as the end of an era.
“We’re witnessing a turning point of history,” rock musician Atsushi Osawa said on Twitter. His band, Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai, included the snack in a 2010 song. They sang about Umaibo’s “miracle price.”
The musician said, “The price has started to diverge from the lyrics.”
I’m Ashley Thompson.
The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said 10 Japanese yen were less than one U.S. cent. At current exchange rates, one Japanese yen is worth less less than on U.S. cent. We apologize for the mistake.
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Words in This Story
snack –n. a small amount or kind of food eaten between meals
delicious –adj. very tasty
crunch –n. the sound of something being crushed (often by the teeth)
point of view –n. a way of looking at or thinking about something
era –n. a period of time associated with an event or some thing
miracle –n. an unusual or wonderful event