Shopping Culture in Japan and the World

 Shopping Culture in Japan and the World

 

In Lesson 12, I observed how shopping culture reflects deep-seated social values. Growing up in an Arab family and later living in Canada, I experienced two main types of shopping. Arabic markets, where people bargain and buy necessities, these markets (which are referred to as Bazars) are usually owned by locals and contain daily fresh goods and lots of handmade stuff. 

This may contain: an open air market with lots of food on display

In Canada, my experience in shopping malls was different, as they served more as social spaces to meet my friends and hang out. Another thing I experienced in Canada is the Farmers Market, which is very similar to Bazaars except that the location is usually not fixed.

Full view

In Japan, however, shopping is influenced by the value of harmony. As The Japanese Mind explains, “the concept of harmony, or Wa, became an important factor in Japanese life” (Davies & Ikeno, 2002, p. 10). In stores and shopping malls, employees work to create a calm, orderly, and conflict-free environment, which I’ve observed in many Japanese shopping malls. Compared to the louder, more flexible atmosphere of Arab markets or the casual, individual-focused style of Canadian malls, these differences illustrate how each culture conveys its values through everyday consumer behaviour, even in something as mundane as shopping.

This may contain: a cat laying on top of a table next to vegetables and cucumbers in baskets

Another point I noticed is the variety of international food options in grocery stores, which contrasts with Japan’s largely ethnically homogeneous culture. In Canada, nearly every grocery store has a dedicated aisle offering a wide range of Middle Eastern, African, and Asian foods.

This may contain: a cat laying on top of a pile of green vegetables in a market area next to other fruits and vegetables This may contain: a cat sitting on top of a pile of rugs


Refrences 

 Davies, R. J., & Ikeno, O. (Eds.). (2002). The Japanese mind: Understanding contemporary Japanese culture. Tuttle Publishing.




Comments

  1. ZimnakoJanuary 12, 2026 at 10:20 PM

    Nice blog. I like to see the pictures of Bazaars and the explanation of differences.

    ReplyDelete
  2. EmilijaJanuary 12, 2026 at 10:20 PM

    I love that there is a comparison in not 2 but 3 cultures, each of them being different and unique. I especially liked the idea on Japanese mostly having “homogenous” markets, that’s a good point!

    ReplyDelete

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