Last month, returning to Japan for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, I was struck by how significantly prices had increased.
In February 2020, a simple lunch in downtown Tokyo cost about ¥1,000, then the equivalent of about $10; today, it costs more like ¥2,000. To some extent, this mirrors the experience in the United States, where, even as inflation moderates, prices remain well above their pre-pandemic levels. The difference is that Japan has also experienced a sharp currency depreciation, which benefits foreign visitors: That ¥2,000 bill translated to just $13.
My visit coincided with the election of new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who had eked out a victory in a tight race within his Liberal Democratic Party. But I have some reservations about whether Ishiba will pursue the economic policies Japan needs.
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