A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

This time, I visited a local farmers’ market for the first time. Having shopped in “farmers’ market” in Japan, I felt a bit of fear to go there imagining myself shoved and kicked around by eager, sometimes scary, fellow shoppers as a result of battle over limited supply, and long queues at the tills. I also imagined heavily politically motivated venders agitating for ban on GM crops or imported products. However, it turned out much more peaceful and shopper-friendly, and the atmosphere was much less political, or rather, not political at all.

Maybe I was just unaware, but I didn’t feel any protectionism or exclusivism there. People there looked enjoying a kind of festive atmosphere while making an additional income or getting fresh and nice products.

Yes, products sold at the market looked so fresh and nice, and lower priced I couldn’t help holding fresh veggies—not realising how big an American portion size was. I ended up with this amount of vegetable (costing $16 altogether).

 To eat them up while they are fresh, I had to ask the receptionist of the hotel we stayed to share some of it— Obachan in the USA!

My husband bought some jars of jam and honey, and of course got his suitcase scrutinised by TSA at the airport. In this case, I feel sorry for TSA people. The bottle looked very “handmade” filled with something pasty. Every single TSA officer would think it could cause a trouble in the sky unless they knew the story behind the bottles and its owner. Sorry for having given a needless trouble!

I wonder whether American people purchase anything at labelled price.

When I shopped at department stores in the US, I always get some sort of discount without my knowledge. I only knew that when I reviewed my receipt.

What is “today’s price” in the first place?

Macy’s even offers “gaijin discount” with which you can get 10% discount on almost all products regardless it is already discounted. I was excited at the generosity first, but then began to think that this customer service might make both parties, customers and stores, unhappy. Customers might not buy anything at “proper” price but buy unnecessary goods simply because it can be discounted. Meanwhile stores can’t provide “proper” service and knowledgeable shop assistants, and end up with bargain hunters. Or, are American consumers  are immune to price cut and can make right choices regardless of whether the price of a thing can be slashed or not?