July, 16 2025 Inflation Panic

 So, all the prices went up

So, guys. I kinda wanna talk (or rambling, perhaps?) about the current economy, and inflation, etc other economic stuff that happened to me recently and kinda giving me stress (not gonna lie about this)

If you haven't noticed, it seems like inflations are happening everywhere around the world. I came from Indonesia, and everytimes I opened the news/ had a phone call with my family, they're gonna complain about all the prices went up. 

I live in Japan, the country that was (and still) known for its uniqueness, "country that doesn't experience inflation, but deflation instead" (at least, that's what my dad and everyone in my family used to say. But not anymore)

well if you wanna know more in details about the 'rice issues', click this link

If you haven't noticed, the rice's price is 3-4 times higher than it used to be in 2020. It's so crazy, and it became national news and people in my workplace are still complaining about the rice, even to this day.

I used to live in Osaka, from 2021-2022. And there's this supermarket where I often went to buy groceries, and I remember that 5kg rice costed me around 1200, sometimes it was 1100, and sometimes it could be 900 depending on my luck and the brand of the rices. Well, if you recognized the supermarket in the picture, you may knew that it's Tamade Supermarket, which is famous for its low prices and discount sales. So, yeah.. maybe the good price 5kg rices was also depends on where you buy it (that's what I thought)

but then, I moved to Tokyo. I tried to compare the prices between Osaka and Tokyo the first week I moved in. To be honest, I didn't see such a big different, maybe only 100-200 yen difference. Including the rices, I remember, from 2022-2023(?) The prices was on 1400-1800. Well, still bearable. Actually I'm not the type of person who eat rice everyday, I bought rice every 4-5 months depending on my mood. 

But, one day, I remember it was 2024 October, I went to the supermarket and saw the rice are being sold for 3100ish yen. I was totally in shocked, I went to the other places, and found the prices are basically the same. And now, July 2025, it already went up to 390

0 and 4000 sometimes, for just a 5kg rices 

That's realllyyy crazy. I remember I went home because I thought maybe I had delulu, ended up didn't buying rice, sitting in my room, calling my dad, and "Dad, the rice, the price, it doesnt make sense!". That's when we learned that, yeah... you know, the rice and inflation stuff. 

(Don't worry guys, I already bought the rice now, I'm not in shock anymore and already in peace with it, and also still having one bag at home hahaha)

I also noticed the prices of banana and eggs are also went up. I remember buying 10 eggs for 98 yen, and now it's 300! (You can get 10 eggs for 250 yen on cheaper supermarkets, if you're lucky). 

So guys, if you're doing groceries on your own, and with you own money, and you wanna save up money as much as possible, you need to do research on shops and supermarkets around where you're living. Although the inflation is undeniable, some places can sell things cheaper than other places. (I found a supermarket that sells oyster sauce for 120 yen while others sell the same product for 350 yen, total rip off...)

 

well, of course,  I recommend going to Gyoumu for the best prices-shoping experience (in this economy)