• Japanese PM says the government will take necessary measures to stem the rise in bread and noodle prices if imported wheat prices remain elevated beyond September

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio said Wednesday that his government will establish a task force to discuss ways to curb inflation and spur wage rises.

At a press conference after the end of a regular parliamentary session, Kishida said that the recent surge in energy and food prices has been caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Measures to curb the rise in electricity rates and stabilize power demand and supply are necessary,” he said, suggesting that the government will soon release measures for conserving electricity.

He also said the government will take necessary measures to stem the rise in bread and noodle prices if imported wheat prices remain elevated beyond September.

The prime minister said the government will keep meat prices from rising by offering compensation to producers to offset rising feed prices. It will lower production costs for major agricultural products by up to around 10 pct to counter soaring fertilizer prices, he said.

Kishida said the government will expand a regional travel discount program nationwide starting around the first half of July to fuel an economic recovery. Under the program, tourists can receive up to 7,000 yen in discounts per person per night.

“I will continue in my efforts so that we can return to normal as soon as possible,” Kishida said, suggesting that he remains committed to reopening the economy and society from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also said the government will create a new agency at the Cabinet Secretariat to oversee responses to future outbreaks of infectious diseases.

“We will revise legislation so that national and local governments can have stronger authority over securing medical resources,” the prime minister said of preparations for future outbreaks.

He said that the government will create an agency similar to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kishida added that the government plans to significantly increase the childbirth lump-sum allowance to tackle the issue of Japan’s aging population.

JIJI Press