TsukuBlog
A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Convenience Stores And Supermarkets Promote Osaka Custom And Point Setsubun Celebrations In NEW DIRECTION (This year on Feb. 2nd!)
1 February, 2021
Poster advertising EHO-MAKI at a supermarket in Tsukuba- many now order these thick and nutrition-packed sushi-rolls weeks before the Setsubun Celebrations in early February (this year, 2021, a day earlier than usual – the evening of the 2nd.
By Avi Landau
Convenience stores and supermarkets have had a huge impact on Japan and they play a major role in the shaping of contemporary Japanese culture and lifestyles. And though in many ways it could be said that these stores are helping to bring about the END of TRADITIONAL JAPAN, it could also be said that they are unlikely repositories of certain aspects of Japanese culture , always displaying traditional sweets of the season and never missing a chance to promote and sell foods and other paraphernalia related to traditional events and festivals. The quest for new products to sell has also led to some innovative ideas which have spiced up certain traditional events. An example of this can be seen if you go to any combini ( convenience store) or supermarket (su-pa) in the 3 or 4 weeks leading up to February 3, which is the day on which the SESTUBUN festival is celebrated (February 2nd in 2021, as an adjustment in the calendar made for the first time since 1897!).