Japan has gone to the Dogs!

Japan takes their dogs (and cats) very seriously!

We decided to go check out the "Dog & Cat Joker" store. I have no idea who comes up with these names!

The puppy store is at an outdoor outlet 'mall', similar to the US. 

This 'mall' has about 30 stores. We walked around for a few minutes just to check things out. 

We knew we were getting close when we saw this sweet guy.

We walked in and found three large glass rooms. One was for kittens, one for puppies and one was for animals who weren't behaving. 

The puppy room had several levels, some crates, quite a few toys, and puppy pads down. There were about 8 puppies out crawling all over each other.

There was one kitten who had decided to test the border. He jumped up on the ledge and watched for a few minutes before the puppies noticed. Oh no! The puppies went crazy trying to get to her! 

Finally a worker came and brought the kitten down to into the middle of the puppy room. It was hilarious! The pups went wild! The customers were all laughing and pointing.

The locals bring in all their own dogs to watch the little puppies. They are a captive, and gorgeous, audience!

The puppies are adorable and the the kittens are just so cute. But, here are the prices...

Yes, this puppy really is ¥180,000 which is a whomping $1,800!!! 

Really?

These are the outlet prices???

There is a grooming room called, 'Doggie Cloak & Wash'. 

The store also has a 'Healing station' where they give massages to the animals. Wow, can a Mommy get in there? 

The retail part of the store is amazing, and very expensive!

You can get all sorts of adorable accessories. What puppy wouldn't love a bonnet?

Or, does your puppy need a $42 Traditonal Japanese Kimono? Come on, it even comes with a bell, which is like the ones often used at shrines to 'wake the gods up so they listen to your prayer'.

Or, how about a puppy stroller? 

You can have this lovely stroller for only...

$520! If you want the upgraded fabric, that model is $561. 

Oh, I forgot to add the almost 10% sales tax. That stroller would be over $600! 

Seems reasonable to me ;)

Outside the store, there is fresh water, puppy bags to pick after your pup and a small turf area. 

(Sorry bad picture since I had to zoom way too much.)

The locals clearly love this concept. We saw dog after dog as we walked around. 

The store made us miss Aggie even more. Aggie is in Japan, but at the kennel. She is not allowed to stay in military lodging. We can't wait to get our sweet Labrador take her shopping!

Puppy Love & sweet dreams,

~ Aggie Amy

Off to Co.Stow.Co

Being the Southern girl I am, I can certainly tell you all about Sam's Warehouse store.

Being the Momma of four ever-growing kids, I can certainly rattle off the benefits of "bulk" shopping for certain items. 

But, we just moved to Japan. 

Japan has 124 million people in a country smaller than California.

Things are tight here. 

Their cars skinny and quite small.

Wait, a second, so are the Japanese themselves 😃

Japan is known for having tiny amounts of storage in their itty bitty homes. 

Our "house" here is over 1,000 square feet smaller than the one we just left in Texas. 

Yes, I said 1,000 square feet. 

So, when I heard the scuttlebutt about having a warehouse store I thought I had

misunderstood. 

(Yes, I phrased that sentence just so I could use the word scuttlebutt. It's a fabulous word that I rarely get to throw into normal conversation. Thanks for letting me use it now. Alas, I digress.) 

Then, our sensei for the head start class we are required to take asked if I enjoyed shopping.

Umm, .... yes ... Especially alone and without an agenda.

He told me I needed to check out this great store that Americans and locals love called, "Co-stow-co". 

He said it several times, hoping that slowing down the pronunciation would help this chick.a.dee. 

I still couldn't understand. 

Finally, a light bulb went off.

"Would you mind writing down the name of the store for me so I can look up directions," I asked our wonderful sensei. 

He sounded out the syllables as he wrote.

 "Co.stow.co" is what he said, as he slowly write down the letters...C.o.s.t.c.o!

Wow! 

Talk about getting Lost in Translation! 

I smiled and tried hard not to laugh.

After class, we grabbed the kiddos, loaded up the van and headed off to "co.stow.co".

It is a HUGE warehouse store, just like in the states! 

Here are a few of our finds...

Those are shrimp the size of Matt's hand! I don't think I've ever seen that in the US!

Octopus anyone? It is precooked, like that makes it anymore appealing. Carson loves it, but he's a teenage boy and we all know they are not normal :)

Here are some dried sardines for you. I hear they are like potato chips. 

I'm not sure who in the world would think this are like chips! I'm worried about where they get their chips!

Here's another version of the sardine thing. These are young dried sardines. Maybe they are easier to eat since the eyes are staring at you. Doubt it.

Costco will certainly get it's share of our family grocery budget! 

It is large, bright and open! 

They even have crazy "booney" hats that my oldest brother would just love. (He's the redneck in the family!) 

The people are very kind.

The prices are good.

If you can't find me, you should there.

Conquering Japan one store at a time,

~ Aggie Amy

Japanese Grocery Store with English Displays

Just a typical day in Japan. The Crew were hungry, so off we went.

Another quick trip to the grocery store in Zama-shi, or maybe it is Sagamihara.

I know it is Kanagawa Prefecture. (Which is sort of like the State we live in here in Japan.)

I am not sure yet where I am. I may never be.

The Japanese barely name their highways. They certainly don't name their smaller roads, or label the towns you pass through. I give up and pray I end up where I am supposed to. I am incredibly thankful for all the nerds who made Google maps and Apple Maps, and that the hubby can read the map!

Looks like a typical grocery ad to me.

One of our favorite places to go to watch people, look at vocabulary and try new things is the grocery store. We have been in grocery stores in many, many countries. It is like a little peek into the world of local citizens. Weird? Maybe, but it teaches us about the culture. That's an important part of any overseas tour. 

Why is there English on displays?

The store we went to today is called Sanwa.
It is supposed to be a 'higher end' grocery. 

I am not at all sure what that means 

to the average Japanese citizen. 

I know that in the US, 

a 'higher end' grocery store means

 larger aisles, brighter lights, 

more products and, often, higher prices.

Here are a some items we found. 

It is very intriguing to see the differences.
And, just for you curious types, the carts are similar to those in Europe. The carts
'roll' in every  direction instead of just
forward and backwards like in the US. In Germany you had to put a coin into a slot as a 'deposit'.
It was a way to ensure that you would return your cart.
I have not seen the 'deposit' system in Japan. 

Turnips? 

You quickly realize you are not in Kansas anymore.
Or New York, or Texas or anywhere but Japan.

A sweet friend of mine LOVES this drink.
I can't even think about drinking "Sweat"!

Seriously, YUCKY! Veggie Ice Cream!
They have carrot orange and tomato cherry.  Gross.

I knew how to find the check out. 

Some of the Crew looking for a new treat to try.

More drinks to try.  Both were great!

I am not sure what the locals thought 

about us. Six, very tall, Caucasians
strolling the aisles with them.
We took pictures, talked about all 

the different items and 

compared prices to American grocery
 stores as we walked through
 the store. The locals were kind. 

We are never nervous or  afraid.
They basically ignore us,
unless we try to talk to them.
They didn't act like we 

were too big of a side show,
which is funny because even in Texas,
we were a side show with two carts and four kids.  

When a child saw us, however, then we quickly become a topic of conversation. The little ones can't 

help but point or stare. The parent are embarrassed.
They usually moves the child away from us and tries not to make eye contact with us. 

We smile, nod and try to stay quiet, which is a little difficult for my crew. 

We wish people would talk to us, but it is not part of their culture to 'bother' anyone.
We do see them, occasionally, point us out to their friends.
They all will look our direction, but no one will make eye contact.
It is sort of like being the one people in the store. 

Part of their treat.  Chocolate Nerds.
Not good.

I have never been in such a quiet environment!

No one raises their voice or talks on the phones where you have to listen to the conversation.

I fell like we are on level 'zero' and being monitored for our volume control.

When the kids, or even Matt, finds something they want everyone else to see it is so funny! They try to find us and tell us about the item -QUIETLY-. It is such a challenge. The kids will laugh loud at something and everyone will stop moving. Like the level of noise may cause them physical pain. I feel so bad.

I have not even heard a cell phone ring when we were in a store. Imagine that! They must silence them!

I love the quiet. Public places are so much more relaxing when you don't hear anyone else!

I hope all is well where ever you are today!

I am eating some Hawaiian chocolates (?),  drinking some Japanese flavored water and watching a six year old "Castle" episode. (I will have to tell you about the TV in another post.)

Life is good,

~Aggie Amy