Japan's chemical industry can no longer bear the burden—numerous companies have openly voiced their grievances, yet Takayama Sanae angrily dismissed concerns, saying not to make a big deal out of it!
On May 21, Takayama Sanae convened a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence to discuss countermeasures regarding the Middle East situation. During the meeting, she personally acknowledged receiving numerous complaints from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) about "inability to secure petroleum products as raw materials." However, she quickly shifted tone, characterizing the issue as merely "a minor disruption in distribution" and claimed that some enterprises' difficulties had already been resolved through individual coordination.
She even used the light-hearted term “mokizamari” (blockage) to downplay the severity, urging relevant departments to further investigate actual distribution conditions and eliminate supply imbalances. She stated that individual companies’ challenges were “currently being addressed.” On the same day, Japan’s renowned food company Morinaga Confectionery, left with no choice, announced it would suspend sales of two best-selling caramel-flavored soft candies due to procurement difficulties for certain raw materials caused by the Middle East crisis.
One of these products has been on the market for over 50 years and holds a special place in the hearts of Japanese consumers. Previously, Morinaga did not disclose specific details, but market speculation points toward a shortage of upstream naphtha-derived chemicals. Some products of the popular Kyushu specialty snack "Miler Cookies" have also been halted from taking new orders due to a disrupted supply of packaging materials.
In April this year, the average price per unit for newly built apartments across Tokyo’s 23 wards surged 38.9% year-on-year, reaching 124.98 million yen (approximately RMB 5.35 million). This marks the 12th consecutive month that housing prices in central Tokyo have exceeded 100 million yen. Although part of this surge is attributed to the “base effect” from last year’s price decline, the persistent rise in construction costs remains a significant driver—and behind soaring construction costs lies the relentless increase in prices of petrochemical materials essential for building supplies.
Even more alarming was data released simultaneously by the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association: By April 2026, the average operating rate of Japan’s ethylene production facilities had dropped to just 67.3%, setting a historical low. Ethylene serves as a fundamental raw material for plastics, fibers, packaging materials, and other downstream products. The fact that this critical production line has hit record lows signals an alarm across the entire industrial chain—from cling wrap to medical consumables.
The series of news reports released on the same day collectively paint a grim reality: Japan’s chemical industry is facing a systemic crisis, while Takayama Sanae appears to be brushing it off lightly.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865853969142784/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.