Economist Noriko Hama, saying that the price battle between already cheap beef bowl restaurants is part of a deflationary cycle that threatens the nation’s economy. (New York Times)
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If we all got used to spending just 250 yen for every meal, then meals priced respectably will soon become too expensive. When you buy something cheap, you lower the value of your own life.
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kyoken
In Japan the other way has also been true. The nation became used to overpaying everything from apartments to melons. They even praised them for that.
neverknow2
combinibento
A non-sequitur if I ever heard one. This person assumes that when you buy something cheap, you are getting crap. This is not always the case. When Micky-D's started selling 99 yen hamburgers, it didn't lessen the value of my life at all. I can always go spend $20 on a burger in that dude's shop in Setagaya if I want.
Junnama
Is this a translation issue? His statement makes no sense. I've never felt any connection between my purchases and the value of my life...
dolphingirl
The value of your life has nothing to do with what you buy!! My gosh what an absurd statement!
bakabaka
In Japan the value of your life is the value to the State/Economy. Your purpose is to spend all your money on inflated prices, therefore keeping the rich rich. In Japan the most expensive is the best.
Cos
If the translation is exact... it is stupid. I will always buy the cheapest offer at equivalent quality.
But she is right if she means a meal as a service. I mean when you buy a meal, you pay the salary of the person preparing it. That the food is bowl of ramen on a counter or a luxury kaiseki service doesn't matter. Most of the price is used to pay the staff. If you pay that staff 1500 yen per hour, they can be a customers of your neighbour's beauty lounge, then the neighbour can make 2500 yen an hour and can be your customer, so you can make 5000 yen an hour... It's a cycle. If the restaurant staff gets 500 yen, well accept to also get 1/3 of your hourly rate too. So it's not so much the value of your life than the amount of your salary.
guest
Japanese have cheapened the value of their lives bullying and teasing each other into hell. If a 250yen beef bowl makes you happy, enjoy. The extra 700yen they save everyday might make some people more happy, they can pay their rent, and keep their happy room. Internet cafes have free food, japans elite bullies are living worse in most cases, spending their money on drink drank drunk. Increase the minimum wage.