Dairy firms to boost butter output to relieve shortage

Thursday 05th June, 07:22 AM JST

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13 Comments

Sidwarwick at 07:42 AM JST - 5th June

Let's hope they can churn out more of the stuff to stop the shortage spreading.
outofmydepth at 08:22 AM JST - 5th June

and just how much are they going to charge for this butter after this artificial shortage was created?????
klausdorth at 09:08 AM JST - 5th June

Oh well, the situation reminds me of the former GDR (East Germany). No supplies available .... sorry, don't have, can't get, won't sell. But the good news is that there was at least some butter on the shelves, selling for a 25% higher fee than it was! So, what can we expect - Japan wants to be a "self-supplier", not depending on imports and that is what you get. And if it was only the butter problem I wouldn't complain too much. Just look at all the other things noodle products, bread, cooking oil or fuel - price hikes in the 20 to 30% range everywhere.
greensatindress at 10:51 AM JST - 5th June

Does anyone actually use butter in this country?? And if so, what for? It's not used in any Japanese cooking (as far as I know) and it seems like it isn't used in other 'Western' cooking here.
cleo at 11:25 AM JST - 5th June

Does anyone actually use butter in this country?? And if so, what for? It's not used in any Japanese cooking (as far as I know)

Jagabata - boiled potatoes tossed in butter and soy sauce. Scrumptilicious.

Kinoko bata-itame - selection of mushrooms (I prefer maitake & eringi, but you can also use shiitake, enoki, whatver you like) sauteed in garlic butter with a final dash of soy sauce. Make lots, because the 'rooms cook down to a fraction of their original size.

In 'Western' cooking it gets used in white sauce for gratins; dolloped on top of baked potatoes, on top of steaks with a twist of lemon, worked into croissants, danish pastries, puff pastry, butter rolls (the clue is in the name), cakes, biscuits... and doesn't everybody spread it on their morning toast?
desmosedici at 12:28 PM JST - 5th June

Butter in Japan??? How about raisin butter. I was once forcefully taken to a "snack" and while surviving on beer, raisin butter was served as otsumami. A big chunk of pure butter with raisins mixed in. Eat with a spoon. Tasted actually quite good.
presto345 at 01:46 PM JST - 5th June

The price of butter has soared here from 430 to 740 yen per 500 g. Ample reason to complain. Like their western counterparts, Japanese cooks, be they women or men, like baking. Cakes, cookies, bread, pancakes, you name it. Butter is an essential ingredient, if you hadn't noticed.
Fair dinkum! at 03:49 PM JST - 5th June

I think margarine tastes butter anyway. But, the had butter hurry and get it on into the stores before people start to like the taste of margarine butter.
Triumvere at 05:56 PM JST - 5th June

"But, the had butter hurry and get it on into the stores before people start to like the taste of margarine butter."

Doesn't seem much chance of that; there are piles of margarine in the supermarkets and no-one will touch it.
niku at 06:04 PM JST - 5th June

They have never used butter here, EVER. Always animal and vegetable fats in cooking for centuries. Say NO to butter, Its bad for you!!!
himasan at 06:25 PM JST - 5th June

Agree with outofmydepth, they`re creating this shortage just to rip us off, like other commodity traders are doing these days.
capone at 06:26 PM JST - 5th June

and we all know that the snow brand butter is poisoned
presto345 at 10:03 PM JST - 5th June

They have never used butter here, EVER

Except for the last 100 years or so!