The latest episode of TV Asahi's special program "Tamori Station," hosted by Tamori, will air on September 27th from 8:00 pm to 9:48 pm. The theme of this episode is "convenience stores," and the show will delve into their history, evolution, and future through original interviews. Guests in the studio include Tanaka Yuji of the comedy duo Bakusho Mondai, who has worked part-time at a convenience store; Nanao, who stars in the October drama "Munou no Taka" (Fridays at 11:15 pm); and consumer economics analyst Watanabe Hiroaki.
Family Mart in 1973, Seven-Eleven in 1974, and Lawson in 1975 are Japan's three biggest convenience stores, which opened their first stores in the 1970s. How have convenience stores grown and changed life in Japan since then? The program will introduce "The 50-Year History of Japanese Convenience Stores."
The show will also feature a behind-the-scenes look at new product development at each convenience store. In recent years, Seven-Eleven has been focusing on "solo meals" that are sized so that one person can finish them all. Among these, the grilled fish that can be heated in the microwave has sold over 80 million meals since its release in 2014. The program's cameras visit the development site and manufacturing factory to find out what the secret is behind making the grilled fish fluffy in the microwave.
At Lawson, the program follows the renewal of a popular convenience store sweet. The reality of product development is revealed, such as the repeated fine-tuning of the amount of sugar, which is less than one gram.
At FamilyMart, the program focuses on the development of original brand clothing, which is a new pillar of the store's products. The program gives an in-depth look at a towel factory, which is being shown on television for the first time, and explores the attention to comfort, quality, and design.
After the recording, Tamori said, "It was very interesting. I realized that convenience stores are not just places to shop, but are completely part of social infrastructure," reaffirming the important role that convenience stores play.
"When I first came to Tokyo from Kyushu, I spent New Year's there one year not realizing that all the stores were closed from December 31st (New Year's Eve), which really put me in trouble (laughs). That would never happen now. You could even say that the birth of convenience stores changed the entire lifestyle of Japanese people," she said, sharing her own experience as she talked about the impact convenience stores have had on Japanese society.
She concluded by saying, "When you look into how the products you see every day are created, you find that there have been many, many delicate innovations. I think the reason behind this is the delicate sensibility that is unique to the Japanese. It's no wonder that convenience stores are said to be a uniquely Japanese culture. Convenience stores will likely continue to evolve, so I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them."
