Struggling households in Japan suffer from soaring prices

The survey was conducted online in June. It received responses from 7,856 people from child-rearing households with relatively low income that applied for the group's feeding program. Of the total, 94.9 pct were single-parent families.

In the survey, with multiple answers allowed, 90.7 pct of respondents, the largest proportion, said that they cannot afford to buy enough food because their prices are too high.

The survey also found that 65.3 pct were concerned about food expenses during long holidays with no school lunches and that 55.9 pct complained of low wages.

About three-fourths of respondents said they ate less rice than they did last year.

Asked about how to finance food purchases, 55.7 pct said that they reduced spending on others, 25.8 pct tapped into their savings and 8.9 pct borrowed money.

"Public support is needed to help households in need receive food stably," said Sonoko Kawakami, chief of Save the Children Japan's domestic programs.