Japanese

"Convenience store"

"Convenience Store is located near here" is a very attractive phrase for the advertisement of hotels or apartment houses. Some men even claim that therefs no need to get married if they have a convenience store nearby. Perhaps this comment may incite a stir among women but it aptly describes how convenient they are indeed.

Well, such convenience stores first appeared in Japan in 1969. 2Mummy Toyonaka" was the first outlet. They were not opened 24 hours though. 24 hours convenience store was started in 1975. Guess which convenience chain group was the first to establish their ground in Japan? Seven Eleven?? Surprisingly, the answer is Family Mart in 1973. Seven Eleven followed next year which was then followed by Lawson.

The store's service quality has been drastically improved ever since their introduction. In 1981, they started home delivery service and Bank ATM was also opened in 1999(at am/pm). Payment of public service fees and mail order shopping at a convenience store is another service that has gained a strong following.( I have seen someone paid more than JPY100,000 at the counter, actually) Also, payments and ticketing for various travel and concert tickets are also available. You can also print out your digital camera prints through the printing machines installed. Moreover, 371 kinds of over-the-counter drugs including vitamins are available from 2004 due to easing of regulations of medical supplies.

You can find more and more useful things in convenience stores but some negative effects are also reported. Their economical impact on smaller traditional retail stores cannot be ignored. For example, many liquor stores suffered from the loss and many had to change their business to convenience stores. However, opening 24 hours is not an easy thing for the small shopkeepers considering the employment costs and the safety concerns. In August 2003, a "Family Mart" in Yokohama reluctantly closed the store because of repetitive theft. The shopkeeper commented that "Safety for the customers and the staffs are no longer secured." His wise decision drew public attention at that time.

What I felt very interesting is that convenience stores are never popular among the European countries.@Retail stores, which open very long hour's days and night, are very hard to find. You can find a kind of Kiosk around stations and in the downtowns but no more than that. I actually have tried to ask a German friend living in Germany, he also said "What is Seven Eleven? I don't know..." Also, he commented "I know about McDonald's but I never want to go there. Fast food is only for busy people. I would love to enjoy eating and drinking with someone beloved, taking time..."

European people have a keen sense of garbage problems. Therefore, returnable bottles are still supplied a lot. This kind of sense would block convenience stores from becoming very popular. In the past, we also had specialized individual retail shop like Milk store, Liquor Store, Tofu Store, etc. My opinion is that these kinds of local retails can aid in the effort of recycling in a much cost efficient and environment friendlier way than the convenience stores.

Thus, I have at times chosen something inconvenient intentionally for the purpose of global environment, and still continue to do so. But I must admit that convenience stores are much too convenient to totally ignore when my daily life is running at a top speed.