Category Archives: Shopping

Raised platform – raised hopes あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko



raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko



raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko


raised platform – raised hopes   あげぞこ agezoko

107 Colours II 色 いろ iro


COLOUR or COLOR


Colour is an extremely important part of our lives. It helps us to tell the difference. It makes life more beautiful. It gives us a sense of emotional warmth. Children learn at an early stage about colours and how they are put together.

This simple cartoon-like picture beautifully demonstrates how different colours make another one. This picture in a beautiful way opens up the child’s mind to introducing different cultural and ethnic differences too.



A teenager’s delight!


In Japan too there are a million colours to choose from. As new colours are created, new names come about and in Japanese they usually mean “katakana colours”, though not always.


Where once in Takasaki all daruma were red, they now have almost all colours of the rainbow.



On the computer one can set any image to almost any colour one wishes. Paints are created and identified by computer. Shades are pure and standard.





The human touch of the potter is now merely a push on a button.





Welcome katakana!











New flower colours are bred.






Your cupboards can have a make-over.



Turquoise from Turkey. Mustard from France. Grey from America. Blue from the navy. Pink from Barbie-land.
























































































Why stop at one colour!

Presents お土産 おみやげ omiyage

souvenir  お土産 おみやげ omiyage
present  プレゼント purezento


birthday present  
たんじょうびの プレゼント 

tanjōbi no purezento


デパートで depaato de
In the department store

Mr and Mrs Shimada go shopping for a birthday present, so a present of some beautiful Noritake porcelain seems just the present for their best friend. In the department store there is so much choice and it makes it difficult to choose. How many will they choose?




おきゃくさん okyakusan customers
おきゃくさま okyakusama customers (staff language)
さら sara dishes
おさら osara dishes (very polite language)
花 はな hana flowers
花 おはな ohana flowers (very polite language)


たくさんのおさらがあります。
takusan no osara ga arimasu
There are lots of dishes.




すみませんが、このおさらはいくらですか。
sumimasen ga, kono osara wa ikura desu ka
Excuse me, but how much do these dishes cost?




きれいですね。。。何がほしいです
kirei desu ne… nani ga hoshii desu ka
Beautiful, isn’t it… what would we like to have?



カードもいりますね。
kaado mo irimasu ne
We also need a card, don’t we?!



すみませんが、このカードはいくらですか。
sumimasen ga, kono kaado wa ikura desu ka
Excuse me, but how much do these cards cost?



あっ、このカードにしました。
ah, kono kaado ni shimashita
Oh, we have decided to have this one.




あかいばらのカードがすきです。
akai bara no kaado ga suki desu
We would like this card with the red rose.




お花もすきです。買いたいです。
o-hana mo suki desu      kaitai desu
We like some flowers too. We want to buy some.




このあかい花がすきです。
kono akai hana ga suki desu
We like these red flowers.





If you want to count items without any particular purpose in mind, or if you are not too sure about the exact counter, you use the following system. Certain is that Japanese do not count, while asking for a certain quantity, by using いち、に、さん etc. Maybe surprising, but true!



Here is the counter list for cups, when they are filled with liquid


Mitsukoshi Department Store 三 越 デパート みつこし デパート


Mitsukoshi is a well-known brand name for quality shopping. The department store chain has many branches, but perhaps the best known branch is the one in the Ginza. It is a huge building with many floors in the most expensive real estate streets in the world. When you shop at Mitsukoshi you get quality and that’s what you pay for. If you buy your gift there, you are not “stingy”.









Behind the famous blue ‘noren’ lies of world that equals shopping paradise. Mind you, it is a shopping heaven within reach for the middle class customer.



Mitsukoshi is such a huge company that it can afford to have its own credit department. Gold or Platinum, Ma’am? For certain products, the large department stores have an advertising, possibly subletting arrangement with big brand names. These photos show German Loewe, French Le Tanneur, Italian Louis Vuitton etc. to their advantage.






Mitsukoshi also takes care of the needs of the ‘Inner Customer’; they provide quality restaurants, amazing groceries and bakery departments – you name it!





The food and the service is perfect. Despite the size of the building as a whole, each department is housed in a subsection that gives the idea of a more personalised home setting. Hence one feels one is walking through a small shopping village. All staff are waiting just for you:

You’re welcome!    
よく  いらっしゃいました。
yoku irasshaimashita







In the larger central reception areas special events are held. It could be an ikebana exhibition, a bonsai display with commentary, or as in this case, a young opera star aiming to make his fame and fortune. Customers will enjoy a free concert and feel refreshed after such an event. In western department stores one might see a ordinary car display of a ‘latest’ model. The Japanese prefer something more special and educational. Anyway, cars are not that sophisticated.





Mixing of religious ideas, as long as it impresses!









The perfect set of Hinamatsuri dolls. Good quality dolls could set you back a few hundred thousand yen. 








Have you been to the Italian Fair already? Here’s your chance!




Mr Piaget will help you with your diamond needs.









They even have a garden centre where they can advise you on your gardening needs – in the middle of Tokyo! Maybe it is more your veranda needs, or your balcony requirements… Whichever. All gardening needs will be taken care of.





Back to food again!






And fashion…








Well… OK, one car at the back somewhere! 
But it had better be a very good one though!











Anyone for antiques, or antique-looking furniture?





Bonus payment celebration time! Long live the wallet!













Twice a year at bonus time, one needs to buy presents for all people who have helped you achieve your present, well-deserved state of happiness. The department store is prepared and many presents are pre-packaged. We have one here, just like that one, all wrapped up waiting for you!



Here is that lovely furoshiki! Pure silk! Very dignified!



Here are those yummy delicacies for your ‘bestest‘ friend!



Here are those cute, fluffy toys for your grandchildren!



Here is that gorgeous matching shopping bag for the discerning housewife!




How could winter be brutal? 
Winter at Mitsukoshi is cosy and warm and friendly!



Advertising signs かんばん kanban


かんばん kanban




かんばん kanban


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かんばん kanban




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かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban




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かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban



かんばん kanban

Modern Masters, Lacquer ware, containers

It is not something we’ve done before, but we feel we should break the rules. We try to present as diverse views of Japan with lots of possibilities. However, we have come across this company that produces just the most exquisite modern Japanese designer tableware. We are sure readers would love to own some of these products and we think they are just beautiful! So here goes:













And here they are: the modern masters

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Some photos came from websites that were most informative and that I would like to have acknowledged. However, a couple had added advertising that was quite unsuitable for educational purposes for younger viewers.