100-yen shop

100-yen shops (100円ショップ, hyaku-en shoppu) are common Japanese shops in the vein of American dollar stores. Stocking a variety of items such as decorations, stationery, cup noodles, slippers, containers, batteries, spoons and bowls, electronics, each item is priced at precisely 100 yen,^[1] which is considered attractive to Japanese consumers because it can be paid for with a single 100-yen coin. However, the current Japanese consumption tax of 8% (food and drinks) or 10% (other items) is also added, making a 100-yen purchase actually cost 108 or 110 yen.^[2] Larger items, like furniture and tools, may also cost more yet are still relatively affordable, usually costing less than 1000 yen.

Daiso at Hanaten, Osaka

100-Emon at Kohnoike, Higashiōsaka, Osaka

The four major chains are Daiso, Seria, Watts, and Can Do, which combined have over 5,500 locations across Japan as of 2012.^[3] A variation of the 100-yen shops are 99-yen shops.^[4] Daiei also operates 88-yen stores. Some shops, such as Lawson 100, specialize in certain items, such as groceries or natural goods, but this is less common than the variety store model.^[5]

As of 2018, Daiso has over 2,800 stores throughout Japan, with 20-30 new stores opening every month.^[6][7][8] One of the largest 100-yen shops is the Daiso in the Tokyo neighborhood of Harajuku. It spans four stories and over 10,500 square feet (980 m²).^[9]

Similar shops have opened around other parts of Asia as well, some operated by Japanese companies such as Daiso, which now has branches in 25 countries outside of Japan.^[10] In Hong Kong, department stores have opened their own 10-dollar-shops (JPY140) to compete in the market, thus there are now "8-dollar-shops" (JPY110) in Hong Kong, in order to compete with those lower prices.^{[citation needed]}

100-yen shops are able to keep prices down by purchasing goods internationally and in bulk. These goods come from countries with lower production costs, namely China and Thailand.^[2][11]

History

The concept of stores that sell products at a uniformly low price dates back to the Edo period, when shops selling items for 19 mon and later 38 mon were popular.^[12][13] By the Meiji period, this had expanded to clothing stores and food stands, and stores selling only 1-yen items were not uncommon^[14]

Japan's first 100-yen shop

The first 100-yen shop in its modern form was opened in 1985 in Kasugai, Aichi prefecture by Akira Matsubayashi, the founder of the company Life Standard. It was called '100-yen Shop' (100円ショップ).^[15] This model was eventually adopted by Hirotake Yano, the founder of Daiso Industries Co. Ltd., who opened the first Daiso store in 1991.

Sales of 100-yen shops were "expected to top more than 100 billion yen" in the 1999 financial year.^[1]

See also

• Bulk purchasing
• Variety store
  • Dollar Tree
• 100 yen coin
• 500 yen bento
• General store