The differences of the supermarket in Japan and the United States

The differences of the supermarket in Japan and the United States

BY

Saho Fujiwara

A SHORT PAPER 

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE OF

SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM (US)

Kumamoto Gakuen University Foreign Language Department

English Course

1. Introduction　
In Minnesota, things of various kinds are sold at the very large supermarket. There are many differences in the supermarket in Japan and Minnesota. For example cakes and milk and so on, what is asked for freshness was sold between for many days. Then, I doubted about the freshness of foods of the supermarket in Minnesota. This paper compares the supermarket in the United States and the supermarket in Japan including it.

2. In Kumamoto
The supermarket and the parking in Japan are narrower than it of Minnesota. We can buy food, household items but if we want to buy electronics and so on, we have to go other shop. We put and use a shopping basket on a cart or only a basket, when doing shopping. Almost all supermarkets don’t have conveyor belt. We put basket on front of the cashier and almost people pay with cash. Few years ago, vegetables and fruits were wrapped and sold at almost all supermarkets. But now, there are many supermarkets which have taken in the unwrapped style like U.S by the environmental problem. And in almost all supermarkets, cut vegetables are not sold. We bring back bought goods home using a charge vinyl bag and paper bag. They differ in a price with size. So recently, a lot of Japanese use “my bag”. 

3. In Minnesota
Target is very popular in the US. All of things such as a cart, food, ice cream and parking are bigger than Japan. In the Target, we can buy everything we want such as general merchandise, clothing and accessories, electronics, toys, household items, health and beauty aids, pharmacies, and groceries. If they are just getting a few things they carry a basket.  If they are getting many things they use a shopping cart without a basket. All supermarkets use a conveyor belt.  When they get to the cash register, they load everything on the conveyor belt and the cashier scans each item to ring up the price. Most people pay with a credit card, but some pay with a check or with cash.  Usually they do not carry enough cash in their purse to pay a larger bill, and would only pay cash for a small purchase. Many people use a coupon. At Target, people who are working in there get a 5% discount if they pay with their Target Visa. They have both wrapped and unwrapped fruits and vegetables.  They have different sizes and quantities and a lot of convenient items like cut up fruit and vegetables. They bring back bought goods home using a free vinyl bag and paper bag. When we are not pleasing of bought goods, almost all things can be returned. But it seldom cares about a best-before date, things of past the best-before date are also sold. So we need check it. It is said in the US that the goods before payment are opened and they pay after opening them. However it is not an everyday occurrence. So I did not look at such a spectacle.

4. Conclusion　
The supermarkets of US have more options than the supermarkets of Japan and different styles. All of things in US are bigger more kinds of vegetables and fruit are sold than Japan. For example, yogurt and cheese have a lot of various flavors. Americans think that all of things of the supermarket of US. In US, almost vegetables and fruit are unwrapped. In fact, it is said that unwrapped vegetables and fruit are fresher than wrapped vegetables and fruit because we can choice one by one. I had watched it by TV. And since the quantity of garbage can be reduced, it is good for environment. In the case of the vegetables and fruit which are not wrapped, we can buy only a required number. It is very good for us because there is no uselessness. About a best-before date, since quality such as milk, a cake and so on are differs from Japan so a best-before date is also long. American do not care so much because they can return them. The US is a country of self-responsibility so if there are mistake for the register, they are our mistake. Therefore, almost American checks a receipt. I think that this is a very big difference. In this case, it is the casher’s mistake in Japan. And the casher has to apologize to a customer. I think it is uneasy to buy something after check everything because a best-before date is also self-responsibility in the US. I think that the difference of culture has appeared also in the supermarket and there are a lot of good points and bad points each other. It is interesting for me.

APPENDIX: Questionnaire or Survey

1.      Where do you often go shopping to buy food?

We go to Target or to a large grocery store nearby our house

2.    Do you use shopping basket, cart or both? How do you use them?

If we are just getting just a few things, we carry a basket. If we are getting many things, we use a shopping cart without a basket.

3. Do all supermarkets have a conveyor belt at the cash register?

Yes, in the US all supermarkets use a conveyor belt. When we get to the cash register, we load everything on to the conveyor belt and the cashier scans each item to ring up the price.

4. How is the bill paid? (cash or card)

Most people pay with a credit card, but some pay with a check or with cash. Usually, I do not carry enough cash in my purse to pay a large bill, so would only pay cash for a small purchase. At Target, I get a 5% discount if I pay with my Target Visa.

5. Are the vegetables sold wrapped?

We have both wrapped and unwrapped fruits and vegetables. We have different sizes and quantities and a lot of convenient items like cut up fruit and veggies.

6. What do you think about supermarkets in Japan?

It sounds like there are fewer options than in the US.

7. Do you think that vegetables and cakes are fresh?

Yes.

10. How many years have you worked in Target?

Almost five years.

11. What kind of work are you doing in Target?

I manage all of the software testing work for our technology systems used in stores, distribution centers, and head quarters

12. What kind of things are sold at Target?

General merchandise, clothing and accessories, electronics, toys, household items, health and beauty aids, pharmacies, and groceries. (Everything you

could ever want!) 

[1164 words]