I love cheese, so it came as quite a shock to hear that from March next year the price of cheese in Japan will rise by up to 25%. As if cheese here wasn’t expensive enough, it’s likely to become a delicacy afforded only by the wealthy.
What happened to the cows?
Good question. You might wonder what would cause such a dramatic increase. Are there too many cheese eaters? Will there be fewer cows from next March? Is grass more expensive than it used to be? Perhaps the cows are on strike? These are some of the questions I’ve been pondering. I mean, how can they justify a 25% price hike in cheese and other dairy products?
Blame it on the oil!
Mami says that rising oil prices are to blame, and who am I to disagree. Oil seems to be responsible for everything these days. It makes you wonder whether companies are jumping on the “blame the oil” bandwagon, using it as an excuse to increase their profit margins. I’m sure I could charge more for English lessons with some logical reasoning such as:
“I’m terribly sorry but as you may have heard, cheese will be more expensive next year… so, in order to by it, I’m going to need more money. I’m afraid I’m going to have to increase your tuition fees. Sorry, but this is Japan and it can’t be helped… blame it on the oil.”
Quit cheese or cut costs elsewhere?
The rise in the price of cheese leaves us with a very difficult decision to make. Should we give up a little cheddar to accomodate the price hike, or sacrifice something else and continue to satisfy our cheese cravings? Cast your vote below, and if you choose to continue eating cheese, what will you give up instead? Let me know in the comments.
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