It is pretty much Dawn of the Dead‘s aftermath out there (after the zombies have won). I guess only 70 year old grandmas and sleep-dephased gaijins go shop on a tuesday afternoon.

There is no such thing as a music track unfit for supermarket PA in Japan. Of course, it needs undergoing a heavy process of musical mutilation first.
I am puzzled at the mere thought of that guy out there with a cheap Casio synthesizer who spends his days re-recording any song he can put his hands on, ensuring it is first emptied of anything that could even remotely be called “musical essence”. Apparently that guy thinks that Mozart’s K. 219, Staying Alive and Anarchy in the UK all have the same potential for easy-listening adaptation.
I might one day beg the supermarket manager to let me make a copy of their CD… unless there is some radio station that broadcast that. Need to find out.

Not that they don’t look appetizing or anything.

Should I be somewhat worried that I do not even think twice about buying 4 tomatoes for 5 bucks (actually, I think “cheaaap!”) or do not blink in front of the $80 watermelon any longer…

But do we have to go through this every single time?

But do you think it would be too much to ask that I be alloted more than one single plastic bag to put all my weekly groceries? No need to look at me like I strangle baby seals with my bare hands during week-ends, when I meekly ask for an extra bag.
I mean, it’s not like I’m the one who decides that every item of food must be wrapped in at least ten layers of miscellaneous materials before being sold here. I’m not the maniac who suggested individually wrapping each freaking piece of chocolate inside the already thrice-wrapped (plastic+paper+foil) unconscionably expensive chocolate bars you sell.

Three words: Kirin Beer Giftpack (think local equivalent to an hypothetical MGD Twelve-Pack Giftbox).
Nothing says “I love you” like six cans of standard-issue beer in a gift-wrapped carton box.