Japan's 'konbini' - open and stocked round the clock

Is it just me or does it feel like there have been a lot of "konbini" related stories lately???

A delivery truck might bring something as precise as a single toothbrush or pack of toilet roll.

Isn't the profit from a single toothbrush some fraction of the cost of delivering a single toothbrush alone, even if only a stop on the driver's regular itinerary?

I think they mean, a single toothbrush instead of cases of them, along with the other items delivered. If you get a chance to see a delivery (to 7/11 for example), you'll notice there are no cases or cardboard boxes. Instead, there are plastic, bar-coded trays with loose items inside. So there's no unpacking then recycling of cardboard. The trays are wheeled into the store on a cart, the stock is placed on the shelves, and the trays will be returned to the truck on it's next trip by the store.

Food packed with essential preservatives, artifical flavourings and chemicals. Mmmmmmmmmmmm, conbini store food.

Stuff is garbage yo. Make healthier choices.

Convenience stores in Japan are definitely the best, although I generally stay away from the prepared foods.

I've read once that close to 40,000 people including children flee to convenience stores (yearly) in Japan for personal safety. (DV, crime, etc.)

We ARE seeing a lot of conbini related stories on JT. Because they are such an obvious and important part of Japanese life.

@marcelito

Konbini - definately one of the best things about everyday life in Japan.

Yes! I'm in Hanoi right now and I would KILL to have a Family Mart and a vending machine on every corner. Everything here shuts down FAR too early (~11pm) for my lifestyle.

Access to alcohol 24/7 is always a plus!

These businesses are environmentally criminal enterprises. No need to stay open 24 hours or have so many outlets. They are a parasite on the Japanese landscape.

@warispeace,

These businesses are environmentally criminal enterprises. No need to stay open 24 hours or have so many outlets. They are a parasite on the Japanese landscape.

An 21st century environmental luddite, perhaps?

So.... no need to stay open 24 hours... anywhere. Right... So, what do you recommend as operating hours? And what about all of those people who get off work or are out in the middle of the night.

And, no need to have "so many outlets". So, tell me, how many is "too many"? Who gets to decide? Is there a formula to judge too many or not enough? Shall we have the Konbini Central Planning Committee put together a 5 year plan and determine where all of the konbini should be based on population density, distance, travel patterns and the like??

@zones2surf

You seem to be suggesting that someone promoting better environmental conditions, just as the Luddites fought to maintain or improve working conditions, is a bad thing? Does that mean you favour the social havoc of climate change?

You also seem to have swallowed whole the notion that any opposition to the power of excessive capital accumulation and how it can transform in harmful ways the social and physical landscape for the betterment of the 1% is an endorsement for excessive state control. Why limit yourself to such unimaginative choices?

Access to alcohol 24/7 is always a plus!

Exactly. In my home state (California) stores stop selling alcohol at 2am and then begin selling again at 6am. It's total nonsense.

@warispeace,

My goodness. Wow. All off of the back of an article about konbini.

I asked some very simple questions, given that you seem to believe that konbini are an "environmentally criminal enterprise" and and "a parasite on the Japanese landscape".

Given your statements, I would suggest that you need to provide an alternative. So, given your underlying philosophy/world view, are you suggesting NO konbini? Are you suggesting local, individually owned stores that are open 9-5 and only sell locally produced goods, whatever they may be?

What is it that you are suggesting/proposing, given that if these are environmentally criminal enterprises as you believe, this would demand their abolishment and replacement with something else? Yes??

"finely tuned supply chains"

Quite a few items, from whisky to desserts, are hit and miss in terms of availability at my local. I find the covenience stores in my home country to be more consistent with their stock.

Medicine and other necessities selection also isn't nearly as good. Singpapore's combinis are my favorite because they are stuffed with global brands, like Cadbury chocolate. Yum.

When outside of Japan, especially in North America, I really miss the konbini and vending machines. Sure they have 7/11 and other chains but the service and selection is just NOT there. This is one of the things that Japan does very well at.