Leafy vegetable prices have surged at supermarkets across Japan following prolonged nationwide rainfall, with shoppers at a Shizuoka store expressing frustration on October 1, 2026.

At the Tagoju Nishinakahara store in Shizuoka’s Suruga Ward, mizuna is priced at 376 yen including tax, while lettuce and cabbage each cost 322 yen per head. A quarter head of Chinese cabbage stands at 290 yen. A local woman in her 60s, holding a head of lettuce at the produce section, says, “Vegetables are something I eat every day, so it’s a problem when they get expensive.”

Katsumi Masuda, manager of the Tagoju Nishinakahara store, says, “Leafy vegetable prices were stable in July and August, but from around mid-September we had no choice but to raise them. Rain has continued not only in Shizuoka but across the Japanese archipelago, and in every growing region, vegetables are underdeveloped and becoming difficult to secure.”

High prices are expected to continue into October and beyond. Root vegetables including carrots, onions, and potatoes have not seen equivalent price increases, as strong harvests have kept supply stable. Masuda says, “Prices for root vegetables, cut vegetables and frozen vegetables are stable, so I hope people will make good use of them.”

According to the Shizuoka Local Meteorological Office, late September in Shizuoka Prefecture saw frequent rainfall driven by an autumn rain front and moist air, with some areas recording heavy rain. Total precipitation reached approximately twice the normal level for the period, and sunshine hours came in at around two-thirds of normal.