Ramen shop Menya Taisei's owner Taisei Hikage prepares to cook ramen with noodles at his shop in Tokyo, Japan, October 22, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
TOKYO (Reuters) - Taisei Hikage is fighting a losing battle at his Tokyo ramen shop - not to attract customers, but to keep a lid on the price he charges for Japan's national comfort food in the face of an incessant rise in ingredient and fuel costs.
Since opening his shop in the west of the capital a year and a half ago, Hikage, 26, has raised menu prices three times but still struggles with rising costs. His top-selling "Special Ramen" is up 47%, selling for 1,250 yen ($8).
