Japanese ice cream firm apologises for popsicle price hike

A Japanese ice cream company has apologised to consumers for hiking the price of its popsicles for the first time in 25 years.

The public apology was made through an online video, in which the company's president Hideki Inoue and employees bow to viewers in an expression of remorse.

The clip, posted on YouTube and played on national television, has now gone viral, with over 700,000 views as of Monday, EFE news reported.

The company, Akagi Nyugyo, made the video after raising the price of its iconic Gari Gari Kun popsicles from ten yen to 70 yen after maintaining the same price for a quarter of a century.

The company explained the price increase of the product, which has been wildly popular since it went on sale in 1981, due to higher production and packaging costs.

Gari Gari, a name that in Japanese resembles the crunchy sound made from chewing ice, is beloved in Japan due both to its availability at most convenience shops and also its unique flavours alongside the traditional soda and fruit tastes, including potato stew, neapolitan spaghetti and corn potage.