Premium brand rice has risen from 3,000 yen to 8,000 yen per 10kg over three years, forcing rice ball specialty shops to consider further price hikes amid soaring costs.

Meito Ward is a residential district located in the eastern part of Nagoya, Japan, which was officially established in 1975 through the division of the former Tempaku Ward. Historically, the area was primarily agricultural land before its development into a modern suburban community, and it is now known for its peaceful neighborhoods and educational institutions like Meijo University.

Nagoya is a major Japanese city in the Chubu region of central Honshu, historically part of the Owari Domain. It is renowned for Nagoya Castle, which was originally built in the early 17th century by the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Today, the city is a powerful economic hub, known for its manufacturing and automotive industries.