As prices continue to rise and food prices continue to rise, universities in Tokyo have started offering a 30% discount on school cafeteria menus from the 21st to support students in need.


Regarding school lunches at elementary and junior high schools, the 23 wards of Tokyo have taken measures such as paying for the price increase with public funds and purchasing rice and milk. has spread throughout the district in the last six months.


There are also voices of concern about further price hikes and prolongation.

30% discount on all university cafeteria menus

At Tokyo Keizai University in Kokubunji, Tokyo, when a questionnaire was given to students about their eating habits this summer, there were

earnest voices such as ▽


being unable to eat due to a decrease in part-time job income due to the corona sickness, and


▽ being unable to receive remittances.


In addition to being sent, it is said that some students have recently cut down on one meal a day due to the prolonged price hike.



In response to this situation, the university will offer a 30% discount on all menus in the university cafeteria from the 21st, when the second semester classes begin.



Prices discounted from the original price were displayed on the display in the cafeteria, such as Kakiage soba from 352 yen to 247 yen and cutlet curry from 440 yen to 308 yen.



As soon as lunchtime came, many students were enjoying their meals.



A male student living alone who chose a large portion of karaage rice bowl, two small bowls, and pork miso soup said, "I'm grateful that it was just a little over 500 yen for such a luxury. I couldn't get a part-time job at an izakaya due to the corona wreck. It's the easiest way to cut down on living expenses, so I'm going to try to do something with food expenses, so I'm saved."



Until now, the university has responded by offering breakfast for 100 yen and handing out meal coupons, but it is becoming more difficult.



Hirokazu Hashimoto, head of the general affairs department at Tokyo Keizai University, said, "Students are in financial difficulty due to the corona virus, and high prices are adding to the problem. As a university, it costs money, but more than that, the economy I want to provide direct and immediate support. I want people to eat full, well-balanced meals."

“Unable to maintain with conventional school lunch fees” Raise prices and respond to public expenses in all 23 wards of Tokyo

When NHK asked the boards of education of Tokyo's 23 wards about the impact of soaring food prices on school lunch costs at public elementary and junior high schools, they were taking measures such as raising prices and using public funds as of April. There were four wards, but since it can not be maintained with the conventional school lunch fee alone, the response is spreading to all wards, including the start from next month to the end of the year.



Of these, those who have already taken or are planning to take measures such as raising the school lunch fee and paying all or part of the price increase with public funds, or subsidizing the price increase with public funds , 16 wards.



Specifically, in


Chiyoda Ward and Suginami Ward, if the supplementary budget bill is passed in the assembly, in addition to bearing the increase in school lunch costs retroactively to April,


▽ Shinjuku Ward will start from July this year as a We subsidize 40 to 52 yen per meal.



In addition, eight wards bear the cost of items such as milk, rice, oil, and wheat.



As for ingenuity at the site,


▽Because the price of oil is soaring, some places are reducing the frequency of fried chicken,


▽Stopping seasonal fruits and changing to jelly.



Many wards are using temporary national grants to respond to public expenditures, and each ward has voiced concerns about further price rises and prolongation.



Regarding school lunches at elementary and junior high schools, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology once again requested local governments on the 12th of this month to promote support measures using temporary grants so that the burden on parents would not increase due to soaring prices. I'm here.

School lunch response to price increases In Minato-ku, Tokyo

In response to the successive price increases of food products, local governments are expanding their response by covering the cost of rice with public funds and subsidizing the cost per meal in order to cover the increased price.



In Minato Ward, Tokyo, children and parents of students attending public elementary and junior high schools are charged 236 yen to 324 yen for school lunches for one meal. has increased from 8,500 yen to 15,000 yen.



In response to this situation, Minato Ward has been bearing the cost of rice, which is about 10% of the school lunch fee, since June this year, and has been purchasing directly from a local government vendor with which it has a connection and supplying it to the school.



Schools are also provided with information on the characteristics of the local governments where they are grown and special products, and nutritionists and teachers explain them to children.

On the 21st, at Onarimon Junior High School in the ward, rice from Funagata Town, Yamagata Prefecture was served, and the students enjoyed eating white rice topped with chicken stir-fried with ginger.



A third-year male student said, "It's so delicious that I'm getting more refills every day. For a limited time, rice from various prefectures is served, so there's a lot of variation and it's fun, and I enjoy eating while being interested in the explanations." .



At this junior high school, in addition to changing the menu to dishes that use less oil, such as chicken teriyaki and mackerel boiled in miso, they are continuing efforts to reduce food costs as much as possible by devising ingredients. is.



However, since the price continues to rise, Minato Ward will start additional support from next month by paying 10.7 yen per meal with public funds.



Aiko Maeguchi, a registered dietician at the Minato Ward Board of Education, said, "I have never experienced such a sudden and large price increase, and we are also uncertain about the future and feel that what should we do. I hope that the supply will be stable as soon as possible, so that we can provide school meals that contribute to the growth of children without reducing their nutritional value."