French Protests Escalate: Soaring Costs and School Crises Hit Japanese Residents

Large-scale demonstrations in France, marked by arson and looting, are intensifying. The protests are driven by rising living costs and poor educational conditions, significantly impacting daily life, including for Japanese residents. France's consumer price index rose 3.1% year-on-year last month, straining budgets. A Japanese student in Paris reports eating out less than once a week due to high prices, with casual meals costing 15-20 euros, while groceries like 250 grams of minced meat cost 6.75 euros. High school students are protesting teacher shortages and dilapidated school facilities, including damaged walls and rodent issues. One Japanese mother reported her son's middle school went a month without science classes due to an unfilled teaching position, and some students are planning school blockades.