This is partly weather induced, but perhaps more significantly, the increased diversion of maize and sugar to biofuels production has resulted in significant price increases in the international markets.
The gradual pace of change in the labor market may arise because how we work is closely related to other aspects of our way of life as well as social values and norms. I believe that the rapid socio-economic changes of recent years mentioned here at this summit will, however, bring a significant change to the Japanese labor market over time.