An American Professor in Japan
Dr. Ryan Eanes, Klein College of Media & Communication
Those who have traveled internationally are likely aware that in most countries around the world you can use your bank cards (typically branded with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express) with relative ease, and that’s also true in Tokyo–at least, kind of. There are a few things that you should be aware of that will seem unusual, especially to Americans, but there are some easy ways to prepare yourself. Here’s what I discovered.
In the United States, so-called “dollar stores” are often derided for any of a number of reasons–they’re frequently poorly stocked and organized, usually in various states of disarray, often carry merchandise of subpar quality or of dubious origin, and, probably worst of all, are frequently criticized as predatory (or even perhaps dangerous) to rural or impoverished communities.1Conservatives like to call these criticisms “elitist,” arguing that dollar stores provide much-needed retail to people who need it, despite growing evidence that these monolithic companies’ buying power simply cannot be competed with at a micro/local level.