Latest news with #TakahiroFujii
Yomiuri Shimbun
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Higher Food Costs Cause Price Increases in Cafeterias, Affecting University Students; Rising Rice Prices Worsening Situation
KYOTO — Due to the sharp rise in food costs, university cafeterias, which support students' diets, have been forced to increase prices. The impact is serious in Kyoto, where students make up 10% of the population. Although their operators, such as university co-ops, have strived to overcome the difficult situation, it is likely to continue for some time. Water instead of tea 'We are doing our best … However, we have no choice but to increase prices again.' In a written announcement, the Kyoto University CO-OP apologized in advance for increasing the prices for a second time of menu items that use rice at seven cafeterias in March, with increases between ¥13 and ¥100. The price rose by ¥55 for a midsize bowl of rice, ¥100 for an ultra-large bowl of rice and ¥90 for a large plate of curry and rice, among others. In addition to the rising price of food costs, the co-op has been passing on higher labor, utility and distribution costs to the prices of menu items. The co-op has been further affected by the sharply rising price of rice since last year. Rice is procured jointly by university co-ops nationwide. There may be another price increase in July or August. The Yomiuri Shimbun A meal combination including rice in a midsize bowl, soup, a main dish and a small side dish costs ¥605 at a Kyoto University CO-OP cafeteria in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. According to a survey by the Kyoto University CO-OP, about 80% of the university's students use cafeterias for lunch as a key part of their diet. Their average payment per meal, however, has remained at around ¥600, indicating that students are likely dealing with the price increases by excluding a small side dish and miso soup from their meals. 'The image of university cafeterias serving affordable meals has completely changed,' said Takahiro Fujii, 21, a fourth-year law student from Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 'There is also no sign of a price reduction.' The Kyoto University CO-OP continues to operate on a tightrope, with a deficit of ¥106.6 million in fiscal 2024 and an accumulated deficit of ¥238 million. To deal with this situation, the co-op in March stopped offering free tea at three cafeterias, even though the service had been popular, and installed water dispensers instead. The co-op expects this to reduce expenses by more than ¥10 million annually. However, Taichi Abe, who is in charge of the cafeteria division, said with concern, 'The price of rice is rising rapidly, and we cannot foresee what the situation will be like.' ¥500 meals impossible The Yomiuri Shimbun The Kyoto City University of Arts cafeteria in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, is crowded with students. Prices have been set higher than initially planned due to increased food costs. On April 10, Kyoto City University of Arts in Shimogyo Ward opened its long-awaited cafeteria just in time for the start of the new academic year. However, the rising cost of food casts a shadow here, too. When the university relocated to its current location in October 2023, it was unable to have a cafeteria because the limited budget did not allow for constructing a kitchen and related facilities. A year and a half later, the cafeteria was finally opened with the university and the Kyoto city government equally sharing the cost of about ¥120 million. The cafeteria has been well-received by the students, who often used to get their lunches from convenience stores. 'I hope there will be more menu items,' said Nodoka Yamaguchi, 20, a second-year student in the Faculty of Fine Arts. The cafeteria is operated by Fujiya Shoji Co. in Nishikyo Ward, which runs cafeterias at about 100 schools, mainly in the Kinki region. As the university has only about 1,000 students, the company only opens the cafeteria for lunch on weekdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., and allows the public to use it as well, in an effort to ensure its profitability. The set menu items are priced between ¥550 and ¥650. In initial discussions with the university, the company had planned to offer 'one-coin set meals' priced at ¥500. But it had to abandon the plan due to rising food costs. Hirohisa Yamamoto, an area manager of the company's sales department, expressed concern, saying: 'We don't want to disappoint students, but if food and labor costs continue to rise, it will be tough.' ¥100 breakfast The Yomiuri Shimbun A cafeteria at Ritsumeikan University that offers a ¥100 breakfast is seen in Kita Ward, Kyoto. Despite higher costs, cafeterias at Ritsumeikan University continue to serve a ¥100 breakfast, which has become more popular recently. This spring, the breakfast was served to more people than in spring 2024. The cafeteria serving the ¥100 breakfast in the Zonshinkan Hall at the university's Kinugasa Campus in Kita Ward is already crowded before the first class of the day. The ¥100 breakfast consisting of rice in a small bowl, miso soup and two small dishes would usually cost about ¥400. The very affordable breakfast has been offered since 2013, thanks to supplementary funding from the university's Parents Association of Student Education Assistance. 'As prices are rising for everything, it's not easy to cook for myself,' said Tomoaki Hirabayashi, 20, a third-year law student from Nagano Prefecture. 'I'm grateful that the price is kept at ¥100.' According to the Ritsumeikan Consumers Cooperative, the breakfast was served on all campuses to a daily average of 1,309 people in the first half of April, up about 17% from 1,120 served in April last year. The increased cost of food has been offset by reforming various operations such as saving water. Hiromi Matozaki, a general manager of the cafeteria department, said: 'Outside the university, it's no longer possible to buy an onigiri rice ball or bread for ¥100. We want students to eat well in the cafeterias.'
The Mainichi
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Device seller demands Amazon Japan step up after 'outrageous' delisting of genuine item
TOKYO -- A medical device sales company whose product was removed from the Amazon Japan website demanded the e-commerce giant to "take responsibility precisely because of its significant influence on the market," following an April 25 ruling by the Tokyo District Court ordering the latter to pay damages. In August 2021, Takahiro Fujii, 56, then president of the Kobe-based Excel Plan Co., had a gut feeling that an item he saw on Amazon "must be fake." Excel Plan held exclusive rights to sell pulse oximeters manufactured by a firm in Kobe. The device, which measures blood oxygen saturation, was used to monitor the health of coronavirus patients. While Excel Plan's genuine product was priced at 25,740 yen (about $180), a nearly identical counterfeit version was being sold for only 2,200 yen (around $15). There were many complaints from consumers who received these fake items, saying "the products were made in China." Despite contacting Tokyo-based Amazon Japan G.K. to request the removal of the counterfeit listing, the situation remained unchanged. Instead, Excel Plan's own product was delisted and disappeared from the site without any explanation. Sales through Amazon, which had been around 100 million yen (roughly $695,000), plummeted to approximately 610,000 yen (some $4,200) just two months later. "This is outrageous!" Fujii recalled thinking. Refusing to accept the situation, he sought relief through the courts. The April 25 ruling criticized Amazon for failing to conduct a proper investigation, stating that there was "intent or at least gross negligence," and called on platforms to implement measures against counterfeit goods. At the April 25 press conference, Fujii stated, "There are many sellers like us who are struggling because counterfeit goods aren't being removed. If fake products stop circulating, it would benefit consumers as well. We hope the company takes this seriously and makes a change." Takaaki Someya, the attorney representing the plaintiff company, said of the court's decision, "Sellers are compelled to use platforms that many consumers use. The demand for proper operation is highly commendable."
