23/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 23, 2025

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B USINESS is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colourful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote outlet in Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. “I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there is so many options, everything is in a different language,” said 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the US. But “I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like US$70 (RM299)” including “a coffee cup for my mom, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple toys”. The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed “Donki” were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration – the idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel Don Quixote. He wanted to shake up Japan’s staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fuelled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are “around 1.7 higher than before the pandemic”, said Motoki Hata, a manager at the retailer. Last year, its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12% year-on-year for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a “treasure hunt” – a fun experience that foreign visitors love, said Hata. “Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for,” he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavour KitKats, a popular exclusive product. Jungle vibes Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 outlets in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the US and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs – including levies of 24% on Japan, which have been paused until July.

Don Quijote’s name derives from the idealistic protagonist of a classic Spanish novel. – AFPPIC

Treasure hunting in Japan o Tourists scour Don Quijote outlets for cheap deals

“It is less expensive than other shops, and they also have famous brands,” said a Tokyo resident who shops at the outlet twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Shoji Raku, 20, said she shops at Donki for “shampoo, electronics and everything that you do not find elsewhere”. There is even usually a cordoned off adults-only section at Donki outlets selling various sex toys. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new outlets targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centred on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. “It is an outlet for you to buy as much as you want – but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it,” he said. – AFP

Don Quijote’s omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its “Don Don Donki” jingle on repeat just adds to the “jungle”-like experience. “It is just almost an assault on the senses,” Kraft said. Inflation hits Still, Don Quijote “has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan”, Kraft said – especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country’s core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2% in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice.

Even so, “I would not bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment”, Kraft said. “Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan – even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their outlets.” They are also “some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I have seen”, with consistently “the best selection of almost anything”. However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is “cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old” with products seemingly “hanging from everywhere”.

The Moscow Metro dates from 1935.

The system serves millions of passengers every day.

The Moscow Metro has seen continuous modernisation.

World’s longest circular metro line celebrates 90 years

THE Moscow Metro has reached its 90th year of operation, marking a significant milestone for one of the world’s largest and longest-running urban transit systems. Since its inauguration in 1935, the system has expanded to cover over 550km of track, with 302 stations, serving an average of eight million passenger trips per weekday. Moscow transport and industry Deputy Mayor Maksim Liksutov said: “The opening of the Metro in 1935 was a historic event for our capital and the entire country. Even then, decades ago, the workers and builders set the highest standards for passenger service. Today, in line with the goals set

and improve accessibility. To mark the anniversary, a series of events and exhibitions were organised in the city, highlighting the history and evolution of the metro system. Public displays featured restored early-generation trains and archival materials documenting the network’s development. As one of the world’s most heavily used metro systems, the Moscow Metro continues to play a central role in urban transportation, reflecting broader trends in infrastructure investment, technological integration and mass transit development over the past century.

2.7 billion passengers. Modernisation has been a continuous process. Today, more than 75% of trains are newly developed models equipped with features such as automated speed control, open gangways and updated safety systems. These advancements enable high-frequency operations, with intervals as short as 90 seconds during peak hours. The system has also implemented digital ticketing solutions, including smart cards, virtual ticket options and biometric payments, and are now used in the majority of daily trips. These technologies aim to streamline passenger flow

by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, we continue to uphold that standard. More than 65,000 people are currently employed by the Moscow Metro. They not only help serve millions of passengers every day, but also work hard to earn the continued trust of Muscovites, so that each journey leaves a positive impression. I want to thank every employee for their dedication and wish them continued success.” Initially launched with a single line spanning 11.5km and 13 stations, the Moscow Metro has expanded steadily over the past nine decades. Last year alone, the system transported