Japanese Supermarkets in Perth (are racist)

I know from the title of the post someone may get offended, but it’s not intended to make people feel that way, it’s just an honest observation from my experience in Japanese supermarkets in Perth.

I frequent Japanese supermarkets. They just don’t sell the same Japanese food supplies in Oriental grocers. You will find a small Japanese food section in almost every oriental grocer - the products are limited to soy sauce, ponzu sauce, ramen, soba, and S&B golden curry it seems. Then there are the displays of China-produced Koala no March, Hello Panda, and Yam Yam at the cash register. Some even have a small supply of Hi-Chew. This kind of supply will probably satisfy the average Japanophile. Not me. For my Japanese husband who wants to eat the taste of home, it just doesn’t cut it.

There are 3 major Japanese supermarkets in Perth. They are Nippon Food Supplies in Subiaco, Maruyu Patochan in Perth, Loi’s/Lion in Perth/Northbridge. Loi’s is the same company as Lion, don’t know why it has a different name though. For those who are searching for Japanese food products i will give an overview below.

My main Japanese Supa (supermarket) is Nippon Food Supplies, but as that is a considerable distance from me i only go there about once a month to stock up on essentials and a few goodies. The other stores in Perth i frequent about once a week depending on what i need or what is on special. But i digress.

I’ve noticed a pattern. Japanese people walk in the door of any supermarket and they get greeted with “Irasshaimase!” in a big loud voice. I walk in after them, the silence is deafening. A Japanese person walks in after me, they get the big hearty “Irasshaimase!”. Sorry, last time i looked i didn’t think i was invisible! It’s just so damn rude. I am sure they are familiar with my face, as i frequent their stores, but because i’m Australian, i don’t even get a greeting. Surely it’s not too hard for them to give a “Hello!”, or even a “Harrow!” depending on their accent… It’s just so obvious. I probably spend more in their supa’s than the average Japanese person, usually between $30 - $50 every shop. Whereas alot of their Japanese customers are travellers or students who don’t have alot of money for overpriced Japanese ingredients. But it shouldn’t be about how much you spend, what you buy or even the colour of your face, it should be about us, the consumer, getting treated right. I wouldn’t take this behaviour in other supermarkets. I would complain. But how do i complain to a Japanese supermarket?

On thinking about it, i think it’s going to be difficult to complain. I for one, am a minority. Sort of. Well, it’s my country, and they are the guest. But, it’s their food, and i am the guest.

It’s all very different when i walk in with Yasu. He gets a big hearty “Irasshaimase!” and i sometimes get a nod. Heaven forbid if they have to actually talk to the barbarian! I’m sorry, i can’t help feeling so peed off about it. It happened to me again yesterday and it just makes me feel like Mrs. Nobody.

I spent $25 in their store. A little under the usual amount as i was just getting a few treats. I was having a quick browse around the store and there were a few other Japanese in there too. After getting greeted they were then approached by the staff members to ask if they needed any help. I was not approached but left to browse by myself.

I know what you’re going to say. Maybe they don’t have confidence to speak English to me. Ok, but how much confidence does it take to say Hello? I wouldn’t mind if they only said Hello and nothing else. If they don’t know how to say “Can I help you?” that is fine, i don’t care. But abit of acknowledgement wouldn’t go astray. I just want to know that when they employ people, do they take their workers aside and say “don’t acknowledge the gaijin, we don’t want them in our store, if they do enter, try to discourage them from returning!” I know, i’m not a gaijin! But i still get called a gaijin by Japanese people who live here, even though they are clearly the gaijin not me! But that’s a whole other story…

So what should i do? Grin and bear it? Ignore them as much as they ignore me? Hard, when they ignored me first, and wouldn’t know if i was ignoring them if they were ignoring me… confused yet? It’s a thorn in my side. It shouldn’t worry me, but it does. I think it all stems down to equality. I’m a closet feminist.

Ok, for all the Perth people; an overview of Japanese supermarkets in WA.

#1 Nippon Food Supplies - Crossways Shopping Centre, Hay Street, Subiaco
Great selection of Japanese food products.
They carry Japanese snacks, lollies, chips, chocolate, drinks, every kind of noodle, curry including House vermont curry, Kokumaro, Hamtaro and Anpanman children’s curry, Mitarashi Dango, Frozen veggies, fish, croquettes, gyoza etc, every sauce imaginable, every tea imaginable, umeboshi, tofu, sushi supplies, rice, kewpie, and all household ingredients like spices, flours, mochi etc. A real one-stop-shop. The staff are all Japanese and they don’t greet non-Japanese, but if you can handle that, it’s worth a look. They also don’t speak much english, so if you need help with food labels, take a Japanese friend with you.

#2 Maruyu Yumehiroba Patochan - Barrack Street, Perth City
This shop has a large range of Japanese health and beauty supplies including sunscreen, lip gloss, skin whiteners, shampoo, conditioner, skin care, hair dye, bath salts, over-the-counter medicines like Oronain, Una, Serogan etc, Mimikaki’s, Shower gel, women’s sanitary products, Japanese condoms. Also they have every day food supplies such as curry and stew from House, lots of cup noodles and noodles, lollies, chocolate, biscuits, traditional Japanese tea snacks, a small variety of Japanese drinks like Pocari sweat, mostly Pokka brand tea or juice drinks, some made in Korea. They also have a $3 shop which is basically products from the 100 Yen store which include homewares like cooking implements, nail polish, makeup, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, slippers, tamagoyaki pans, tupperware, stationery etc. They also have a mark-down stand for items that have passed the used by date, usually half price or more. They also have a loyalty card. Every $5 you spend earns you a stamp, 10 stamps means $2 off your next purchase. Some stamps you get go towards a special discount of 15% off your purchase.

#3 Lion Oriental Food Wholesaler - Fitzgerald Street, Northbridge
This retailer, although it is an Oriental food shop, mostly sells Japanese food products. They specialise in general grocery items like curry, tofu, noodles, frozen foods, sauces, spices etc and they have a large range of ingredients that the other stores don’t carry, so this store is mainly complimentary. They also sell Japanese candy and snacks, and sometimes have special items like Hello Kitty backpacks with snacks in and stuff like that. They also sell a big range of Japanese bowls, teapots, chopsticks etc.
They sell Japanese beer, sake, wine, umeshu, shochu, etc and have a license to sell it. I go there to buy Japanese beer like Ebisu (malt or regular), Sapporo, Asahi, and Kirin. They have a very large range of Sake!! You can also buy 6 packs or cartons of Japanese beer. I mainly go because we can’t get Sapporo or Ebisu in normal liquor stores here, and the prices are very reasonable for the Japanese beer. 1 bottle of Ebisu was $3.80, the same as a bottle of Kirin Ichiban Shibori at a regular liquor store. They also have cans of Sapporo beer, about 700 mls, which are about $7 each. It’s definitely worth it to go there, even for a look at all the Japanese alcohol.

Lion has a subsidiary store called Loi’s which recently burnt down due to a fire. They have now set up shop on the corner of Murray Street and Barrack Street in a little arcade there, occupying 3 small shops. They sell the same things as the mother store except for the alcohol, but they do sell Japanese drinks. I found cans of Kirin Gogo tea, and bottles of Asahi Oolong and Green tea there.

#4 Super Fuji - 245 Albany Highway, Vic Park.
While this is a Japanese supermarket, it also doubles as a Japanese DVD and Video rental, as well as a Manga and book shop. There are basic Japanese groceries here from health and beauty up to meal bases, candy and snacks. You can also buy thin meat for nabe, and the much sought after Natto! I recommend a visit just for curiousity’s sake, but beware, some of the items such as washing powder, detergent, soap, and health items are very expensive. It is worth comparing prices for items such as these between Maruyu and Super Fuji, if you must have them. They have unusual trading hours: Wednesday to Monday, 11am to 5pm, closed Tuesdays and public holidays.

Just a hint. Nippon Food Supplies, Loi’s, and Maruyu do not accept credit cards or eftpos so if you intend to buy something there it is wise to take cash. Lion accept eftpos ($10 minimum) and credit cards. If you look in the last page of the Perth Express (Free Japanese language magazine) they usually have a 10% off voucher for Japanese foods at Lion’s in Northbridge.

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