Carlton. Consumer price inflation in Kumamoto was brought home to me yesterday when I passed one of the “百円寿司 / ¥100 Sushi” places, Kura Sushi to be exact, that is near me. For decades they and their numerous competitors have advertised a serving of sushi on their computerized conveyer belt delivery system, regardless of most ingredients, to be ¥100. 2 pieces of sushi for a shiny reliable 100 Yen coin. ‘Hyakuensushi‘ became a word in its own right.
But yesterday there was a big funereal black and white sign outside the restaurant (and its empty parking lot; cause and effect?) advising customers that henceforth all servings would be ¥110.
I almost felt the earth shake. It’s maybe like Charles Shaw “2 Buck Chuck” cheapo wine at Trader Joe’s, a big American supermarket chain, suddenly becoming “2 Buck and 2 Bits Chuck”. It just doesn’t have that same marketing zing to it at all.