Japan's food packaging turns black and white, while Sanae Haga continues to paint a false picture of calm
The energy crisis triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is beginning to manifest its impact across various industries in Japan.
On the 12th, a major Japanese snack manufacturer announced that due to a shortage of printing ink (a petrochemical product), the packaging bags for its snacks will now be simplified to basic black-and-white colors.
Looking at reactions from Japanese internet users, most expressed concern and anxiety over this corporate decision. Some even said it reminded them of Japan during the final stages of World War II, when material shortages forced many products to adopt black-and-white or minimalist packaging.
Although Japanese media have repeatedly exposed shortages of essential supplies, and companies are taking concrete actions proving the severity of these shortages, the government led by Sanae Haga remains indifferent—on the 12th, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sato Kei insisted in a press briefing that there was no issue with the supply of printing ink, and no reports of shortages had been received.
Today’s Japan bears striking similarities to the era of World War II on multiple levels: top leadership is obsessively focused on military expansion while ignoring widespread hardship among ordinary people; meanwhile, right-wing media and online commentators incessantly promote "normalization" and seem eager to go to war immediately. A familiar atmosphere of militarism pervades society.
Yet Japan’s economic foundation remains extremely fragile—any minor disruption in energy and raw material supply chains quickly exposes systemic vulnerabilities, as demonstrated clearly by the black-and-white transformation of snack packaging.
Just as Japan chose reckless gambles and attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, we must not underestimate the possibility of military adventurism today. Under mounting economic pressure and worsening energy crises, right-wing factions driven by extreme ideologies often lose rationality. Given that the Haga administration has already replicated the WWII scenario to such an extent, who can guarantee they won’t attempt another military gamble?
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865071031626752/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.