Food makers in Japan are responding to rising consumer inflation by offering new, low-priced products.

Nisshin Seifun Welna is reducing the sizes of some items. These include pasta and flour mixes for "okonomiyaki" pancakes and "takoyaki" octopus balls.

The major milling firm says the smaller portions are easier on household budgets and help reduce waste.

Company president Koike Yuji says consumers are not only becoming thriftier but their needs are growing more diverse.

He says Nisshin Seifun Welna faces the added challenge of keeping its production costs low amid rising raw-material prices.

A rival milling firm, Showa Sangyo, has introduced a tempura-batter mix that requires only small amounts of oil when cooked.

Tempura is usually deep-fried. But this product allows it to be heated in a pan with about three tablespoons of oil.

The firm hopes to help ease the impact of rising prices of cooking oil on household budgets.