Yen for Living

Recent posts

• Cheap smokes finally going up in price

  Until the tobacco prices went up in 2010, third-class cigarette sales were very low.

• Show me the money: Who paid for what in the Lower House election

  The government spent ¥63 billion on the recent Lower House election

• Consumer stimulus is not the same as welfare, though the purpose is the same

  There may still be time to apply for the government’s one-time welfare handout.

• Annals of cheap: Narita express buses

  Narita Airport is still inconvenient for Tokyoites, but now getting there is less expensive.

• Deflation Watch: bean sprouts

  Bean sprout producers are demanding retailers pay higher prices than the retailers are willing to pay.

• Cosmetics market shifts up in age

  The cosmetics industry is looking at potentially booming business.

• Attitudes about money continue to affect marriage prospects

  Unmarried men still don’t expect their future spouses to contribute much financially to a household.