Summary: Food and drink makers in Japan will raise prices on 1,477 items in November 2026, according to a survey of 195 major food companies published by the credit research firm Teikoku Databank on 30 October. That is fewer than in September and October, but about 10 times more than November 2025 (150 items). The biggest groups are seasonings (644 items), alcohol and drinks (417) and processed foods (275): think sauces, mayonnaise, bottled coffee and soft drinks, canned fish and baby food. You do not need to do anything official. But if you shop on a budget, it helps to check the makers’ notices, compare unit prices, and only stock up on what you can use before the best-before date.
What is changing
Each month, Teikoku Databank (Teikoku Detabanku, TDB) collects the planned price changes of 195 major food and drink makers in Japan, mainly for household products. Its report for November says:
- 1,477 items go up in price in November 2026. This is the first month in three below 3,000 items.
- The average increase is 17% each time a price goes up.
- Price rises confirmed for all of 2026 now total 20,327 items. That is the second year in a row above 20,000 (2025: 20,609). About 8,000 of them came in September and October alone.
- TDB expects December to be smaller, and says the number of price rises in 2027 may be lower than in 2026.
| Category | Items rising in November | Examples given by TDB |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonings | 644 | Sauces, mayonnaise |
| Alcohol and drinks | 417 | Bottled (PET) coffee drinks, soft drinks |
| Processed foods | 275 | Canned fish and seafood |
| Other | 141 (calculated) | Baby food |
| Total | 1,477 |
Checked: 2026-10-31. Source: Teikoku Databank, 30 Oct 2026. “Other” is 1,477 minus the three listed categories.
Why prices are going up
Makers could give more than one reason. In 2026 so far, 91.7% of the price rises were linked to higher raw material costs, 63.9% to energy, 51.5% to labour costs (a record high in this survey) and 27.5% to the situation in the Middle East.
Two examples: mayonnaise
- Kewpie is raising prices on 224 household products, including mayonnaise and dressings, for goods shipped from 1 November. Kyodo News reported that the suggested retail price of Kewpie Mayonnaise (450 g) goes from 559 yen to 611 yen.
- Ajinomoto announced that six household mayonnaise products, including Pure Select mayonnaise, rise by about 6–10% for deliveries from 1 December.
When you will notice it
Most makers announce a date “for products shipped from” or “delivered from” a certain day. Shops usually sell their existing stock first, so the shelf price often changes some days or weeks later. That means prices do not all change on 1 November, and the same product can change on different days in different shops.
What you can do now
- Check the maker’s notice. Search for the maker’s name with kakaku kaitei (価格改定, “price revision”). The notice lists the products, sizes and the date.
- Compare unit prices. Many price tags show a price per 100 g or 100 ml (100gあたり / 100mlあたり). This makes it easier to compare different sizes and the shop’s own brand.
- Stock up only on what you will use. If you buy before a price rise, keep to amounts you can finish before the best-before date (賞味期限, shomi kigen). Throwing food away costs more than the price rise.
- Look at your other bills too. Food is only part of the picture this winter. Some power companies are also raising electricity prices from November. Our guide on how to read your electricity bill in Japan shows where to find your plan and usage.
If you mostly eat out
This survey covers food makers’ products, mainly sold in supermarkets and convenience stores. Restaurant prices are set by each chain, so check the chain’s own announcements.
FAQ
Does this mean price rises are slowing down?
November has fewer price rises than September and October, but still about 10 times more than November 2025. TDB expects December to be smaller.
Is every food product in Japan included?
No. The survey covers 195 major food and drink makers. Smaller makers and shops’ own price changes are not counted.
Do I need to apply for anything?
No. There is nothing to apply for. This is about planning your shopping.
Related reading
- Food and drink prices in Japan, October 2026: 3,153 price rises and the beer tax change
- Electricity prices in Japan rise from 1 November 2026
日本語で読む：11月の食品値上げは1,477品目
