{
  "id": 10214433,
  "title": "Pawn Shops Thrive as Living Costs Rise",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/pawn-shops-thrive-as-living-costs-rise",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T12:52:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "News On Japan",
    "slug": "news-on-japan",
    "url": "https://newsonjapan.com/article/150876.php"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Pawn shops in Japan are experiencing a surge in demand as rising living costs force more people to borrow against their valuables. Stores are specializing in secondhand purchases, with gold prices driving the growth of these businesses. Customers in Osaka are selling items like jewelry and gold coins to cover everyday expenses, medical bills, and business costs. While some find success in selling their possessions, others regret parting with items that later increased in value. Traditional pawn shops offer an alternative for those reluctant to part with their belongings permanently, providing short-term loans with the option to reclaim items once the borrowed money and interest are repaid.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}