The Nakata family in Kawasaki, Japan, began growing their own vegetables as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as inflation hits new highs and food prices soar, the garden allotment has become a valuable source of food.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Kazuki Nakata carefully tends to the green onions growing in the small yard outside his
00:09home in Kawasaki, Japan.
00:11What started as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic has now grown to 47 types of vegetables,
00:19thriving in bottles, cans, even the basket of his bicycle.
00:24And it's become a valuable food source for his family, as inflation takes hold.
00:30The cost of living in Japan skyrocketed in 2024, particularly for fresh produce.
00:57One of Japan's staple vegetables, cabbage, has tripled in price over the past year and
01:03is now more expensive than pork.
01:05Broccoli, lettuce and other veggies also surged in price and have become unaffordable for
01:11many households.
01:13As a result, Japanese adults are eating less vegetables than ever before.
01:20But not the Nakata family.
01:44The family has been documenting their home garden on YouTube, quickly gaining thousands
01:48of followers as viewers search for affordable answers to inflation.
01:54And the Nakata family is eager to share the benefits.
02:17The Nakata's success in home gardening is inspiring others to follow suit, to combat
02:23the rising cost of veggies and close the gap between the garden and the plate.
02:28Scott Huang in Herald Hughes for Taiwan Plus.