From JuJu with Love

The Most Polite Grocery Store on Earth

This morning before we left Tokyo, we decided to make one last stop at the mall attached to our hotel, where there was a supermarket in the basement. We wanted to pick up more tea to bring home as gifts, so at 9:57 a.m., the five of us were standing outside the doors waiting for the market to open.

And when I say waiting… I mean waiting.

At precisely 10:00 a.m., the doors opened. Not 9:59. Not 9:58. Exactly 10:00.

We were the very first customers inside and headed toward the back of the store in search of the tea department. As we walked through the aisles, every employee we passed bowed to us. Naturally, the five of us started bowing back. Then another employee bowed… so we bowed again. Then another. By the time we reached the back of the store, it had basically turned into an ab workout from repeated bending at the waist.

The displays were absolutely gorgeous — everything beautifully arranged and carefully presented — but what struck me most was the culture of politeness and respect. It’s such a different experience from what we’re used to at home.

At one point, my friend touched part of one of the displays. Within seconds, a very kind woman wearing white gloves appeared behind us and gently rearranged everything back into its perfect position. Not annoyed. Not dramatic. Just quietly restoring order to the universe.

Even the Uber drivers wore white gloves. Japan truly operates on a completely different level of service and politeness than anything we’re used to at home.

I keep laughing imagining someone in the produce department at Kroger bowing solemnly as I walk by looking for avocados.

After two plus weeks in Japan, I’m going to Kroger this morning and honestly it’s going to feel very strange if nobody bows when I walk through the aisles. 😂

From Juju with love 💙