Chinese Supermarkets That Surprise the Japanese

The Japanese media outlet PHP Online published on September 7 an account by freelance journalist Megumi Nakajima about her experiences in China.

The article states: "China has many delicacies not found in Japan. As a vast country, every time I visit local markets or supermarkets, I come across unfamiliar vegetables and fruits that leave me astonished—'Hmm? What is this!' It's extremely fascinating."

Walking through supermarkets, whether it’s vegetables or fruits, you often feel 'This is different from Japan,' naturally paying attention to origin and appearance. For example, while Japan sells five or six types of citrus fruits during the same season, China offers more than ten varieties. Sometimes shelves display three large pomelos resembling the famous Kumamoto late-white grapefruit. Even fruits originally grown only in southern regions are now available nationwide due to improved transportation conditions. Considering China’s enormous land area, its logistics system itself is truly impressive.

The most unforgettable thing in the supermarket was seeing 'sunflowers.' In China, sunflower seeds are eaten as snacks—similar to how people enjoy pistachios or peanuts. But what I saw were whole sunflowers, wrapped in plastic wrap and sold as-is. I’m not sure if people buy them home, dry them, then extract the seeds from the center (at least that’s my guess). This is a highly innovative sales method.

Tomatoes and cucumbers are sometimes sold still attached to their vines; similarly, green beans are also sold this way. Some cucumbers still have yellow flowers on them, and some tomatoes retain damaged leaves. The piles of fruits and vegetables in supermarkets resemble mountains because they’re sold by weight. Since prices are displayed as per 500 grams, it’s hard to tell how much more or less expensive they are compared to Japan. Once accustomed, one can quickly calculate, but for newcomers, estimating the total cost is difficult. Nevertheless, everything looks incredibly fresh.

Eggs are sold by brand and type—white-shelled, brown-shelled, or gray-shelled. Unlike Japan, there are no size classifications like S, M, L here; some stores package them in plastic bags instead of standardized containers. Meat and fish are also sold by weight. Some shops even keep live fish in aquariums, scooping them out as needed by customers.

More and more stores now offer pre-cut meat slices, and fewer people buy large chunks of meat or entire fish. This may be due to the rising number of single-person households. Small packages labeled 'per person' or '80–200 grams' for meat and vegetables are especially popular. Chinese supermarkets also offer a wide selection of rice, condiments, desserts, and ready-to-eat meals. Rice comes in 10-kilogram bags similar to those in Japan, but loose bulk rice by weight is also available. Black rice, regular rice, and millet are all sold. In northern China, short-grain rice dominates, similar to Japanese rice; in southern China, long-grain rice is prevalent. Both types are available in supermarkets.

The main difference in condiments compared to Japan lies in 'oil.' Chinese cooking uses a lot of oil, so buying a 5-liter bottle of cooking oil is common. Moreover, 'buy one, get one free' promotions are widespread in China, allowing shoppers to take home up to 10 liters at once. This contrasts sharply with Japan, where cooking oil is mainly sold in 400-gram or 1,000-gram bottles. In Japan, cooking oil is measured by weight—grams or kilograms—but in most other countries, including China, it’s measured by volume, such as milliliters or liters. Even large-capacity oil bottles in China are designed with handles. In China, small-packaged cooking oils don’t sell as well as large ones.

In China, around 2016–2017, not only food but all kinds of goods became widely available for online purchase, leading to a significant shift in consumer behavior. While this is undoubtedly convenient, from a Japanese perspective, browsing supermarkets or shopping malls might be more enjoyable.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875643914902540/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.