Terry Ito Column Vol. 79: The Day Convenience Stores Disappear

I often stop by a convenience store on my way to work by car in the morning. I buy coffee at Seven-Eleven. Starbucks is good too, but it's a bit expensive, so I don't go every day. That being said, I do end up wasting money at convenience stores. The day after Shohei Ohtani and Yoshihiro Yamamoto of the Dodgers have a good game, I buy a sports newspaper, and on scorching hot summers like this one, I can't help but buy Häagen-Dazs ice cream or a Garigari-kun ice pop in the morning. On days when I haven't eaten breakfast, I gobble down an American hot dog. I'm acting just like a high school student. When winter comes, I start craving oden. Salmon and red bean rice balls are also a must. Normally, at my age, I should be thinking about nutritional balance.

As I finished shopping and came out of the store, this thought suddenly crossed my mind: "What would happen if convenience stores disappeared from our daily lives?" It's said that the first convenience store in Japan was a Seven-Eleven that opened in Toyosu, Koto Ward, about 50 years ago. Of course, I remember a time before convenience stores existed, but what would happen if they disappeared now?

Morning coffee, sandwiches, and rice balls will become a necessity. Even at lunchtime, office workers and construction workers will be left without a place to eat. If the flu breaks out, masks, disinfectants, and tissues will become hard to find. You'll realize you're out of soy sauce or other condiments halfway through cooking, and there won't be a convenience store nearby. Toilet paper will be an even more disastrous outcome. You could have paid your utility bills—electricity, gas, water, and taxes—while you were there. Emergency water, work gloves, and spare batteries are also on the way. Just thinking about the loss of convenience stores makes me think the world will panic.

Perhaps within a month, clever people will start businesses in front of their homes. Pretty girls will be selling homemade coffee from the doorsteps of ordinary houses. Men will likely be getting up early for that. I can also imagine rice ball shops, sandwich houses, and mobile energy drink shops popping up all over the residential areas. Unlike the impersonal cash registers of convenience stores, you'll probably hear "Have a good day!" from all directions. And the shopping streets of small towns will come back to life. I'd love to see the grandmother's pharmacy and the old-fashioned candy stores again. The tofu vendor's horn is sure to make a comeback as well. The best thing will be that people will interact more, and everyone in town will know each other.

It would be terrible if convenience stores disappeared, but humans have a talent for finding new things when they lose something. It would be interesting if such a time came. Every day would be like a festival. Everyday life would be like a celebration. When that day comes, I will open "Terry's, the Solo Host Club at Dusk"!
Customers are sure to come...

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry