100-yen shops (100円ショップ,hyaku-en shoppu) are commonJapaneseshops in the vein ofAmericandollar stores. Stocking a variety of items such as decorations, stationery, cup noodles, slippers, containers, batteries, spoons and bowls, electronics, each item is priced at precisely100 yen,[1] which is considered attractive to Japanese consumers because it can be paid for with a single 100-yen coin. However, the current Japaneseconsumption tax of 8% (food and drinks) or 10% (other items) is also added, making a 100-yen purchase actually cost 108 or 110yen.[2] Larger items, like furniture and tools, may also cost more yet are still relatively affordable, usually costing less than 1000 yen.
The four major chains areDaiso, 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 asLawson 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 ofAsia as well, some operated by Japanese companies such asDaiso, which now has branches in 25 countries outside of Japan.[10] InHong 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 inbulk. These goods come from countries with lower production costs, namelyChina andThailand.[2][11]
The concept of stores that sell products at a uniformly low price dates back to theEdo period, when shops selling items for 19mon and later 38 mon were popular.[12][13] By theMeiji period, this had expanded to clothing stores and food stands, and stores selling only 1-yen items were not uncommon[14]
The first 100-yen shop in its modern form was opened in 1985 inKasugai,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 byHirotake Yano, the founder ofDaiso 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]
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