Do you know of a supermarket that is one of the most exciting in Japan? Now, I swear, it’s Don Quixote. These iconic blue penguin stores are getting popular and there is one in my neighborhood. It has become my weekend routine to hang out there. One day my wife said, “ Hey, look at that! This is him!” She pointed out the display at the store. I said “ No, no. It doesn’t make sense. It must not be him, he must be a Bruno Mars lookalike.” After checking out it on the internet, I was surprised because that man was him!
*One of the most famous singers in the world appeared in a commercial video at the store. Nobody found out if he’s Bruno Mars or not. The iconic white colored glasses are selling now. Don’t miss out as there is a limited number.
I can’t believe it because such a celebrity who won 15 times at the Grammy Awards appeared in a commercial video. I got goosebumps. Can you imagine that? Why did he decide to take the offer in the first place? I have to admit that Don Quixote has become one of the major retailers. I’ve written another article with basic information about the store. If you get a chance, please have a look below.
So today I’m going to share why Donki attracts people and 10 must-buy items. Let’s get started.
Before, I analyzed what makes Donki different from other supermarkets. First of all, they always offer amazing items at an affordable price. Secondly, you might notice that you feel as if you were in a theme park, not at a supermarket. Jam-packed displays make you feel like you are treasure hunting. Hand-written POP, the staff bends over backwards to engage people who are looking for something fun. Last but not least, each store manager can decide what they want to sell based on the market demand, even though it is such a big company. That’s why people are happy with the items that they selected.
1. Casual Kimono
*Jinbei (甚平) and yukata (浴衣) are Japanese traditional clothes. Technically, these are not Kimono, but I’m not a picky person. Jinbei (甚平) is generally for men in summer. Yukata is for men and women both in summer. These Japanese traditional clothes vary from high quality ones to reasonable ones. You might not know which one you should buy. As Donki is selling these entry models, it’s enough to get one if you just want to feel some Japanese style, I’d say.
2. Iconic Blue Penguin
*This blue penguin is named Donpen (ドンペン), and is here and there at this store. This penguin is the mascot character of Donki. They also sell a variety of goods with the character on it. You might want to try some as a souvenir.
*See? It’s fun to find Donpen items. Above is a mosquito repellent band.
3. Toothbrushes
*What an amazing price this toothbrush is. They are only 58 JPY each.
4. Cotton Swabs
*Cotton swabs– I use them every day. I know cotton swabs made by Johnson & Johnson are the best quality in the world but sometimes the cost surpasses the quality. Don’t get me wrong, this one has a good enough quality.
5. Items to Help You Stay Cool
*Japanese summer heat is intense. You can see many people carrying portable fans.
*Wearing this item on your neck keeps your neck cool. It’s made from a material called PCM (Phase Change Material) that NASA uses for astronauts’ body suits. These days you can see this item everywhere but it’s also available at Donki.
6. Great Japanese Invention
*Cup noodles known as “cup ramen” in Japan are the best thing since sliced bread. I’m proud of the person who invented this as a Japanese person. When I was younger, like everyone, I grew up eating it. They used to fill your stomach immediately at an affordable price, but now cup noodles have evolved. Not only reasonable ones, there are special flavors featuring famous ramen shops like Ichiran (一蘭). You can find many types of cup noodles in Japan.
*This yakisoba cup noodle has 2,142 kcal. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says 2,200 kcal is enough for adults on average. You can get almost your entire day’s calories at once if you have this.
7. Alcohol
*One of my favorite sakes at Donki is Funaguchi (ふなぐち) brewed by Kikusui Shuzo (菊水酒造). This canned sake tastes fruity and rich. Actually, Donki sells it at a cheaper price than other neighboring supermarkets in my area.
*These two bottles in the center of this photo are printed with famous anime characters from my generation. The title is Hokuto no Ken (北斗の拳). When you get a chance, you might want to read the manga.
8. Toasted Seaweed
*Japanese people love eating nori (海苔), which means toasted seaweed. It goes well with rice, noodles, pastas, everything. Plus, garnishing them with cucumber pairs well with beer.
9. Tuna Cans
*Oftentimes I put tuna in sliced cabbage when I make salad. You can make a healthy salad easily by using this instead of bacon.
10. Travel Bags
*As they go about their work with great attention to detail about what customers demand, you can’t miss these travel bags. There are a variety of suitcases, so I’m sure you can find your favorite one.
How was that? Again, I am really surprised that such a big celebrity like Bruno Mars is on the promotion video at the store for real. Whenever I visit this store, I come across a new experience. I believe Donki’s success will continue on for a while as long as they work their butts off to improve their quality. When you visit a major city in Japan, there must be Donki, so don’t miss it. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful experience. Thank you for taking time to read my article to the end. See you soon in my next article!
I worked at a trading company for many years. I live in Tokyo with my wife. Love skiing, traveling, IPAs, wine , X-treme sports, fashion, and learning English and Chinese.
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