IT'S EVERYWHERE! For such a small island, it really is amazing to me just how many shopping malls you can find in such close vicinity to each other, all selling the most popular clothes, music and accessories. Instead of being spread across the land (like in the United States for example), these shopping malls rise vertically towards the sky, each floor packed on top of the next, full of the latest goods to be sold. This particular photograph was taken recently in one of the MANY shopping centers in Shibuya, Tokyo, which, being one of the most notorious areas in Japan for great shopping, is always packed full with eager shoppers searching for the perfect bag or pair of shoes to match their new outfits.
Of course, because there is such a huge emphasis on consumerism here in Japan, there is also great attention paid to the quality of customer service (as I mentioned before in my post 'Neighborhood Hirakata'). I decided to post this picture (also taken during my trip to Tokyo) because I think it really captures the eagerness of the Japanese to help customers as they shop for whatever product they are interested in, whether it be electronics or fancy clothes.
And so, consumerism in Japan continues to run WILD, and it really does seem as though there is nothing that you simply can't buy. This trend in consumerism is, of course, responsible for allowing Japan to quickly develop from an agrarian society into a world super-power, almost overnight. This topic, for me, is one of the most interesting ones to consider when thinking about the Japanese nation as a whole, so if you are also interested in the development of Japan into a major competitor in the world market, you should check out this link:
(Go to the 'Title' search bar and enter: 'Japanese Popular Culture in East and Southeast Asia')
**AND for your viewing pleasure, a video taken from THE most popular intersection in Japan, right outside of the Shinkansen Tokyo terminal. This is for all of you who have not yet made it to Tokyo, so that you can see the size of the consumer crowds in this particular location...
