The Differences Between Japanese and American Supermarkets

The Differences Between Japanese and American Supermarkets

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, various goods are sold at very large supermarkets. There are numerous differences between Japanese and American supermarkets. For example, items like cake and milk, which generally require freshness, are put on sale for a number of days. Due to this, I doubted the freshness of many products in American supermarkets. This paper compares the supermarkets in the United States and the supermarkets in Japan.

2. In Kumamoto

Supermarkets and parking lots in Japan are a lot smaller than in America. In Japanese supermarkets we are able to buy food and household items, but if we want to purchase electronics etc. we have to go to a specialist shop. In Japan, many people put baskets into their shopping carts, or they simply just use a basket. Not many supermarkets have moving conveyor belts at the till. This is why we use baskets, as we put the basket in front of the cashier. It is also common for most people to pay with cash. A couple of years ago, fruit and vegetables were wrapped and sold at every supermarket. However, recently many supermarkets have adopted the grocer style of America and sell unwrapped fruit and vegetables. It is rare to find cut vegetables in many Japanese supermarkets. Bags are carried back home in either vinyl plastic or paper bags, which you may be charged for. The price differs according to the size. Therefore, recently many Japanese have begun using “My bags”, which are bags you keep for life.

3. In Minnesota

Target is a very popular supermarket in the US. Many things are larger in America, such as carts, food, ice cream and parking lots. In Target, you can buy almost anything you want, from food, clothes, accessories and electronics to toys, household items, health and beauty aids and medicine. Those who shop at target usully only carry a basket if they’re purchasing a few items.  If they are purchasing many items then they use a shopping cart without a basket. All of America’s supermarkets have conveyor belts at the till.  When they arrive at the cash register, they load everything onto 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 don’t have enough cash to pay for large purchases, so they only use cash when they buy only a few items. It is common for people to use coupons, also. People who work at Target receive a 5% discount if they pay with their Target Visa card.

Target sells both wrapped and unwrapped fruit and vegetables.  They have different sizes and quantities and a lot of convenient items like cut up fruit and vegetables. Goods are brought home in vinyl plastic and paper bags, which are usually free of charge. If the buyer is not satisfied with their bought products they can return it back to the store. American supermarkets seldom care about best-before dates and sell products which have gone past this date. Therefore, it is important to check items’ best-before date. Also, in America, some people might open some items before they pay for it.. However, it is not an everyday occurrence and I personally did not see it happen.

4. Conclusion

American supermarkets have different layouts and a lot more choice when compared with Japanese supermarkets. Most things in America are larger than in a Japan, and a bigger variety of fruit and vegetables are available. For example, yogurt and cheese have a lot of various flavors. Americans believe that most things in their supermarkets are from the US. The supermarkets also sell wrapped and unwrapped fruit and vegetables. In fact, it is said that unwrapped vegetables and fruit are fresher than wrapped vegetables and fruit, because we can purchase them in smaller quantities. I found this out by watching TV. Also, because they are unwrapped, it reduces the amount of waste they produce, which I better for the environment. In the case of the vegetables and fruit which are not wrapped, you can only purchase a certain amount. However, it is convenient as there is more available to use.

The quality acceptance of items such as milk and cake is different between the two countries, but the best-before dates in America seem to be longer. Americans never really care about quality, as it is easy for them to return the item. In the US, you have to check for mistakes yourself, so most people will investigate their receipts to see if one has been made. This is the opposite case in Japan. If a mistake is made, the cashier will notice it. They will be very apologetic to the customer. It is also up to the customer to check the best-before dates of their products in America.

The difference in culture definitely shows in something as simple as a supermarket, and it is clear that each country has both good and bad points to how they shop. It is interesting to see this.

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!) 

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