Japan’s Independent Tofu Makers Are Rapidly Disappearing · Global Voices
Photo of a tofu maker's store, in which tofu is produced and sold. Image by Flickr user <PERSON> (CC BY NC ND 2.0)
Japan's Yomiuri Newspaper recently reported [ja] that the country's traditional tofu makers who produce and sell tofu in their own shops are on the verge of extinction. 925
According to the article, in the last ten years, 5,000 tofu makers have closed down their businesses.
Tofu industry journal Toyoshimpo [ja] detailed that the number of tofu makers are decreasing year after year, and now there are fewer than 10,000 tofu sellers in Japan.
Times are getting tougher for these independent tofu providers due to a hike in the cost of soy beans. Supermarkets and grocery stores are demanding lower prices from tofu makers, and independent tofu makers that sell tofu have to compete with the price of cheap mass‐produced tofu, amid Japan's economic stagflation.
The news reverberated on Twitter, where users recalled the tofu makers in their own communities and commented on the state of the industry.
Journalist <PERSON> wrote anxiously in response to the news report:
「豆腐の安売りが激しくなっており、どこも経営が苦しい。適正な価格でスーパーに卸すなど販売価格を見直さないと、豆腐屋はいずれなくなってしまう」と。それは困る！ →豆腐店、続々廃業「３６５日働いても利益ない」（読売新聞） http://t.co/QPt3jrhYLq
— <PERSON> (@amneris84) November 2, 2013
The report says “The price competition of tofu is increasing, and tofu makers are having a difficult time.If tofu makers don't review the price or start selling their tofu to supermarkets, they will disappear.” Now that is a problem! ―Tofu makers closing down businesses, say there's no profit despite being open 365 days―
Twitter user <PERSON> expressed feelings of powerlessness, and commented in grief that despite her personal effort to support the community tofu maker by intentionally avoiding mega-stores that sell tofu, it didn't make a difference:
大手スーパーに、食の文化も安全も乗っ取られてはいけない・・と、できるだけ近所のお店で買い物をするようにしている。 でも、町の美味しいお豆腐屋さんもなくなってしまった。 ■豆腐店、続々廃業「３６５日働いても利益ない」 http://t.co/tNbtTyLy4o …
— 城山キーウィ (@ShiroPineapple) November 2, 2013
I have always made the effort to visit local stores instead of going to a big supermarket, yet my favorite tofu seller in the community closed up shop. ―TTofu makers closing down businesses, say there's no profit despite being open 365 days―
Photo of a tofu store taken by Flickr user vintagecat (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
<PERSON> recommended that people take a hard look at the consequences of cheap tofu prices:
他生産品が値上げするなか低価格のままは確かに歪んでる。無理な低価格は食の安全を脅かすことにも繋がりかねない。安いことは喜ばしいけど、我々も安さの裏側をもっと見なくちゃ。 925