NARA -- The price of "shika senbei" wafers specially prepared to feed deer in Nara Park will be raised from 150 yen to 200 yen for a pack of 10 on Oct. 1, due mainly to the planned consumption tax rate hike on that day.
This is the first price increase for the wafers in 28 years.
The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation decided to raise the price after taking into account the expected consumption tax hike from the current 8 percent to 10 percent, as well as steep rises in the cost of raw ingredients.
The deer cracker is made by baking flour mixed with rice bran. Each wafer is about 9 centimeters in diameter.
Currently, five companies in Nara produce wafers of this kind, and a local merchandise association and others sell about 200,000 packs per month.
Though the consumption tax rate was raised twice in the past, the price of the wafers has remained unchanged at 150 yen since 1991.
"We had no choice but to raise the price. We ask consumers to understand that a part of the profits from sales is used to protect the deer," said Yoshitaka Ashimura, director of the foundation.
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