Tokyo rice prices in October soared a record 62.3 percent from a year ago, government data showed Friday, as rising living costs have become a key issue in Japan’s general election being held this weekend. The surge in rice prices, the largest increase since comparable data became available in 1971, comes as farmers pass rising labor and fertilizer costs on to consumers. Rice prices have been trending upward in recent months, particularly in urban areas, also due to short supply following last year’s hot summer and increased demand from restaurants. With the Tokyo figures serving as a bellweth…