Japanese seaweed harvests are reaching near-record lows due to increased global demand for Japanese food, leading to a surge in prices and affecting household and restaurant budgets. The Sanriku coastal region in northeast Japan, which accounts for over 70% of the country's wakame production, has seen the most significant drop, with this year's production being the lowest since 1977, except for 2011 when the region was hit by an earthquake and tsunami.