Shotlist FILE: Tokyo, Japan - 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries entrance, sign FILE: Tokyo, Japan - November 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 2. Various of people in grocery store, bags of rice for sale FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 3. Shoppers in supermarket 4. Various of eggs for sale on shelves FILE: Tokyo, Japan - July 3, 2024 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 5. Various of shoppers, vegetables, fruits, price tags in supermarket FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 6. Shoppers in supermarket; food on shelves Storyline Japanese-style egg rice, or tamago kake gohan, which is a popular Japanese breakfast food featuring cooked rice topped or mixed with raw egg and soy sauce, has become luxury for some Japanese as rice and egg prices hit record highs in Japan. The average price of rice sold at about 1,000 supermarkets nationwide climbed to 4,337 yen per 5 kilos in the week ending Dec 21, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Meanwhile, egg prices are also on the rise, partially due to higher feed prices and avian influenza. In the Tokyo area, M-size eggs averaged 324 yen per kilo this year, a new high since statistics began, according to major egg sales company JA Zen-Noh. Beyond rice and eggs, Japan is grappling with a far wider range of food price hikes because of rising ingredient and labor costs and a weakening yen. The latest data showed that more than 20,000 food products are subject to price hikes in 2025, and the prices of nearly 3,600 food products will rise in early 2026. According to local media reports, the persistent price hikes have forced Japanese people to switch to more affordable alternatives to rice, beef, butter, and tomatoes, opting instead to buy wheaten food, chicken, margarine, and carrots.