Economy Food challenge: salarymen opt for ultra-cheap lunches

[thomas]

The Guardian describes the plight of Japan's salarymen, who are forced to tighten their belts in light of higher costs due to the Ukraine war, supply chain issues, and the effects of COVID-19. Many spend as little as JPY 500 (GBP 2.60) daily on lunch.

Another survey by the Japan unit of Edenred, a payment service provider, found that about 40% of male and female office workers had reined in their lunch expenses. In comparison, almost 70% said they had denied themselves their favourite dishes to save money. In a show of solidarity, the Guardian scoured the streets of one part of the capital over a working week, setting itself the challenge of eating at a different restaurant each day while avoiding supermarket delicatessens and convenience stores – popular destinations for the lunch crowd. What the meals lacked in fruit and vegetables – gyudon, a gyoza set lunch, ramen, soba noodles, and, to finish, a Japanese curry – they made up for in value for money. All met the sub-JPY 500 criteria, even after adding a 10% consumption tax, and were generous enough to keep the most enthusiastic eaters – this writer included – satisfied until dinnertime.

Japan’s salarymen opt for ultra-cheap lunches as food prices continue to rise

Higher costs as a result of Ukraine war, supply chain issues and effects of Covid force lunching office workers to tighten belts

www.theguardian.com

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Generally, you cook a obentou, and do you not bring it?
I made a obentou by oneself.
Generally it is from 300 yen to 500 yen.
When it was troublesome to make a side dish, I bought a side dish of the discount in a supermarket on the day before and filled the obentou.

I make a lunch with around 200 yen at home now as I make a telework.

 

[johnnyG]

We used to make extra something or other for dinner the night before, which could become lunches the next day or few. Sometimes a lunch by itself, sometimes I'd combine with something from the school cafeteria--wife might grill chunks of fish, and I'd take some extra to work and get rice/soup there, maybe another side like cold or warm tofu.

Tonight I made a curry, enough left over for three lunches between us.

 

[thomas]

Isn't it high time for a special thread to show off our homemade culinary delights?