The global inflation wave is seeping into the Japanese economy, with high commodity and energy prices pushing up costs of everyday goods, gasoline and power.

Japanese companies are generally reluctant to pass higher costs on to price-sensitive consumers, but more firms are apparently being forced to do so, as prices for a slew of products are on the rise.

Kikkoman Corp., a Chiba-based maker of soy sauce that hasn't hiked its prices in about 14 years, is one of many companies who say they are out of other options.