[NIHON BUNKA KENKYUU] BUNKEN 101: Reviews, comments, and insights on Japanese pop culture.
As any casual observer of Japan might note, the country is obssessed with convenience stores. They are found on every street corner -- sometimes two or three in the same intersection at the same time. It would be interesting to take a look at this uniquely Japanese way of going to the corner store, a concept they have revolutionized to the point that both American general stores and Filipino sari-sari stores are adapting to cope with the increased competition.
A Japanese convenience store is the very essence of the word. Even in a culture designed around the notion of convenience, trains still stop running at midnight and automated bank machines close during national holidays (at least, they do in Japan); however, the corner combini is always open. Neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor juvenile delinquents hanging out in the parking lot are enough reason to close. It is a testament to both Japanese resilience and ingeniuity, as well as their craving for immediate gratification.
The key to the success of the convenience store in Japan is their development of the POS, or point of sales system. The POS runs via a network of computers that are linked to all cash registers in all convenience stores (of the same company, of course) within range of a central distribution point. Whenever a customer buys an item, the computer automatically updates store inventory. More importantly, it informs central dispatch that the store will be needing a number of items of a particular good which they have sold over a specific time frame (which in most cases is simply a couple of hours).
The system makes it practical for central dispatch to send out delivery trucks on a strict rotation since they already know what each store on their delivery route needs. By eliminating the need to go back and forth between the store and the warehouse to get items that they thought they didn't need to bring, the chain has a more efficient delivery system, and can afford to use the trips they saved to instead make more delivery runs across the same route.
The POS system also ensures that the warehouse knows which goods are selling well and which are not; that way, they can reduce operations expenditures as well as lost income simply by stocking what people want to buy, and removing from the store shelves what they don't. The cutthroat competition in turn forces manufacturers to come up with newer, better products, or refine their most popular ones to make sure that people will continue to purchase them.
POS also makes it possible for what are traditionally non-traded goods to be available on the open market whenever a person chooses to buy one. It used to be that if you wanted to watch a movie, you lined up at the ticket booth and bought your ticket, after which you had to enter the theatre immediately otherwise the ticket will be considered void.
With POS, you can simply drop by your favorite convenience store, operate one of their specialty one-stop transaction machines (which resemble ATMs), and purchase concert tickets, video games, or rent movies -- all at the same machine. The machine then prints a ticket that you can present at the cinema or concert hall indicated on the ticket face, or a form that allows you to claim the merchandise at the store on later date. It's so easy and convenient.
Overall, POS works out in the favor of the consumer, since it means he gets fresh, high-quality goods, at minimum cost, not to mention that he can have it whenever the fancy strikes him. And while some people argue prices are convenience stores are somewhat higher compared to regular supermarkets and grocery stores, and that the choices are somewhat limited, it is the knowledge you can go out at two in the morning for a fresh pack of gyouza that makes the add-on all worth it.
Here's a quick rundown of common convenience stores found mostly in Central Tokyo. Variations may occur in the Kansai, Northern Honshu, Western Honshu, Hokkaidou, Kyuushu, Shikoku, and Okinawa areas, but overall some of the more popular chains are represented everywhere.
SEVEN ELEVEN (place of origin: the US): It's the biggest chain, with over fifty stores in the Shinjuku area alone. Their precooked bento and sandwiches are highly recommended because, for prepacked microwaveable food, it really isn't half bad. And there's nothing quite as refreshing as a SLURPEE. yum.
FAMILY MART (place of origin: possibly JAPAN): 7-11's chief competitor, it has a larger share of the drinks and beverages market than 7-11 because of their lower prices and wider selections. However, the rest of the store is a little lacking; their bento are not as appetizing as their main rival's, and their snacks are even more expensive than 7-11's.
MINI-STOP (place of origin: possibly JAPAN): Their pre-packed desserts at the prepared food freezer are highly recommended. They have a version of Filipino halo-halo, which comes in cute, screw-top cups and has moulded nata de coco and kaong. Their tuna-mayo onigiri is also delish and great with cold green tea!
LAWSON's (place of origin: AUSTRALIA): What LAWSON's really is known for is their ticketing POS system. They offer a TICKET PIA service that is not available in the other stores. From there, you can book concert tickets, movie tickets, soon-to-be released CDs (they issue you a form and you can claim it on the date of release), and even limited edition artists good (a series of FATIMA and KAGRRA photosets were sold exclusively via this system).
CIRCLE K (place of origin: UNKNOWN): One of the smaller chains, there are not as ubuquitous as the other stores.
So if you're in Japan, why not try walking out of your hotel room at three in the morning and grabbing a bite to eat at the corner combini? It may sound a little mundane, but it's a unique, amusing, and somewhat surreal peek at the daily lives of them freaky Japanese folks.