How Japanese Stores Throw Shoppers Out at Closing Time |

Could "Too Much Volcano" be the track the Japanese retail sector needs??
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00:00 Pete's Police Tie Hustle
02:57 Kindness of Kyoto Strangers Strikes Again
07:49 How Japanese Stores Get You Out the Door at Closing Time
12:41 Japan's perception of US Military Bases
16:50 Camping Chairs in Ramen Queue
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[@kcpisonet]

Semisonic's "Closing Time" song is the perfect tune to play to remind people that the establishment is closing ^_^

[@CDBIII]

Exactly, this is insane to me that wasn’t brought up!

[@brittanyw.9351]

Exactly where my mind went. Most bars play it.

[@psycofire93]

It has become such a meme in Nashville that we play Closing Time after sporting events and at concert venues when the concert is over lmao

[@UltimateGattai]

The store I work in used to play this all the time, but people ignored it anyway, lol.

[@myamericandream8152]

Kyoto in 2007 was magical. I was teaching in Ibaraki and used the Seishun Kippu 18 to go all the way to Kyoto in early August. I stayed at J-Hoppers Hostel just south of Kyoto Station. It was such a quiet and peaceful place. Lots of restaurants were just older people that cooked in their own home kitchen and did 3-4 different dishes. You basically just sat in their living room to eat. The best was being able to explore Kiyomizudera with about 25 other people. I went back in 2018 with my fiance and her cousin and the experience was totally different and left me somewhat disappointed. I doubt I'll ever go back again now, but no worries, plenty of other places to explore.

[@buda3d2007]

Same was there in 2007 myself, we stayed in the same area through Hostel World, its was more laid back and we were one of the very few tourists, but the atmosphere was very relaxed, not the mad scramble approach if tourists tripping over each other to have the more "authentic expereince"

[@alaner1383]

@@buda3d2007 Tourists criticizing tourists, never gets old. You're part of the very problem you're presenting. Try to be a bit more self-aware at least.

[@buda3d2007]

@@alaner1383 youtube consumers criticizing youtube consumers never gets old. You're part of the very problem you're presenting. Try to be a bit more self-aware at least.

[@Mobik_]

​@@buda3d2007 based

[@uss_04]

Wish I visited Japan more in the 2000s. Fees like after this influx Japan’s relationship with tourists may have changed significantly for good.

[@patobrien588]

The funniest story I heard was Kenny G's "Going Home" becoming the universal "Closing Time" in China. Because MP3 piracy was so rampant, places played it without even knowing where is came from. Kenny G joked that when he played it mid-concert in China the audience all got up and left early.

[@crsbryan]

"Closing Time" by Semisonic. The genius of that song! Played by SO MANY BARS at.. you get the idea.

[@TheClintonio]

I've never heard it. Maybe that's where you live 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@derekasato9035]

@@TheClintonio I've heard it in bars on the West and East Coast in the US at closing time. Are you outside the US?

[@Somefox]

Have actually threatened to put this on the P.A. at work at 17:30 on Fridays. But yes, I half expected that to be the song and was mildly disappointed to hear Auld Lang Syne.

[@Fadamor]

@@TheClintonio If you speak English and listen to rock music, you've probably heard it. One of the lyrics is, "You don't have to go home, but you Can't. Stay. Here." Maybe you're so young that you consider songs from 1998 to be "old music" and don't listen to classic rock. It reached #1 on the Billboard U.S. Alternative Airplay Chart and charted in Canada, the U.S.A., the U.K., Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australia under the various countries' music rating charts.

[@LuminalSpoon]

Probably because Closing Time wasn't a big hit outside of the US, Secret Smile is the one we would have heard of (UK).

[@xvk2r8t0vxkne7]

I have a close friend who’s stationed in Misawa U.S. Air/Naval base. One thing he shared about why Okinawa bases are notorious for animosity against fellow servicemen is because a lot of our marines, sea boys and airmen came from rural households with little understanding or self awareness with Japanese people and often done some pretty rough sh!t as there has been many historical incidents with U.S. military personnel.

[@MrKylederp]

They're a bunch of children from backwoods Missouri who are let loose in Japan with cheap alcohol. They shouldn't send new people there but that isn't how it works in the military.

[@Crazt]

ROFL! "Everyone and their mothers have been to Japan." I lived in Japan for a broken 8 years, and my mom, who had never left the US, visited me in 2018😂 Woo! Chris mentioned my home in Japan, Iwakuni!

[@Great_Sandwich]

Alright, Chris... Let's get down to business: _HOW'D YOU SNAG THAT INVITATION TO DINNER WITH THE EMPEROR AT THE PALACE!?_

[@Skyfire-x]

Sir Barry Chopsticks is real.

[@HeavenHalos]

Connor said in the Twitch Rivals stream that one of the King's staff was a fan of Chris so he got invited when the British King hosted the Japanese King. Both Connor and Pete wonder if Chris got knighted for increasing the Japan-Britain foreign relations.

[@Great_Sandwich]

@@HeavenHalos Ahh... Thanks.

[@aandkq]

They do this with a few other UK KZbinrs as well - Jolly were invited to meet the Korean PM in a similar event and Sorted Food have done multiple videos with the royals

[@xmaple1x]

I vote Godzilla Roar as the closing time tune.

[@nexuslexus13]

I grew up on Kadena Air Base (parents were air force) never experienced or heard of any locals being hostile but marines were notorious for harassing people at bars, playing the knockout game with random people on the street. Overall disrespectful behavior, I don't blame the Okinawans for having animosity towards military presence.

[@TheClintonio]

I love telling people that the Auld Lang Syne is from back home, same with the Japanese schoolbell using the Winchester Chime.

[@muttshouse]

I'd love to hear So Long Farewell from Sound of Music as a closing song. Pretty obvious.

[@TashapeshapeTah]

Don quijote in Malaysia also played the same song at closing time 😅😅😅

[@eyespliced]

There's literally a song in english for closing time. It's called _"Closing Time"_ by *Semisonic.* Can't tell ya how many times I've heard it at the end of a good night out.

[@rockytheramone5604]

Hello Chris Creme and Pete De Menthe. I am a solo musician and I visited Japan back in September 2023 to play some gigs. For context, I had watched the Trash Taste episode where you all agreed that ordering Creme De Menthe was a bad idea because it has probably been sitting there forever. On my 4th day in Japan, I traveled to Matsuyama to see a punk show at Hoshizora Jett club and was warmly greeted by the locals, who were baffled that I would come all the way down to Matsuyama from Tokyo.. Several people bought me drinks but it was the first offer that gave me pause. My usual response is "I'll have what you're having", so the guy ordered in Japanese. That's when I saw the bartender reach for the Creme De Menthe. I figured it would be better to get food poisoning from an expired drink than be rude and refuse, so I drank it anyways. Turns out everything was OK and I lived. The audiences I played for in Japan were very appreciative and made me feel welcome. If you are a musician thinking about going to Japan then I would definitely encourage it. I'm coming back to Japan in late October/mid November and I would like to play a Sex Pistols song for Natsuki! I'm staying mostly in Tokyo so maybe you might catch one of my gigs or run into me out busking on the street. - Rocky The Ramone

[@margaretkaraba8161]

The US Military *USED* to have an active drinking culture in the 50's and 60's (not sure after that) - My Dad signed up for the USAF in the 1950's and told me how he'd be pushed to go out and drink "Be social, let your hair down!" after learning/training and work. The military wives had their own clubs where they'd drink (Mum was a member and said there were some wives that regularly really tied one on, and she got sick of that and left.). So there's a high probablbility that Okinawan's are historically sick and tired of drunken military runining things.

[@bitfreakazoid]

I've been to Fushimi Inari three times, twice during the day and once a late night climb. Actually saw the back end of a bore run into the bushes during the night climb.

[@xxVoid_Wolfxx]

Always glad to see that new video is out. Thank you for brightening the mood. 🖤🖤🖤

[@AYoutubechannel1448]

Cool gentlemen moves. Heart that's fruits too.

[@natalian.1320]

"Camping Chair in hand" 😂

[@buda3d2007]

I also stayed in 2007 on Okinawa with US military contractors, there is an unhealthy culture many have claimed formed around Okinawa and the contractors tried to tell me about, some Japanese youth have an unhealthy attachment to everything foreign while others will detest any foreigners even flat out not allowing them into spaces there(great balance I know right?) , however these days tourists are from everywhere so they don't automatically assume you are a US troop like they did in 2007 (I went again in 2019), Still does not improve the situation because US troops have commited a lot of crimes against the locals there as well.

[@miguerys9503]

There's probably a sign that clearly indicates the closing time... in perfect kanji.

[@gewglesux]

i thought that everyone knew about the" it's time to go home so get out" song at night..

[@Pschokid]

Stores in Sweden doesn't play a specific tune that I've notice but they do stop playing music. Which really urge you to go home

[@johnbecker1996]

Shibuya or Ueno would be ideal for anyone visiting Tokyo - both locations give one access to both the Yamanote and Ginza lines, which get you to most anywhere you could want to go in central Tokyo.

[@DovidM]

I recall buskers being told to move along at South Shinjuku and elsewhere. Supposedly, busking in Tokyo is allowed but I suspect some shopowners see it as a nuisance.

[@sktng62]

i brought a mini camping stool to universal studios! ive had some bad ankle injuries and it gets sore real easy!

[@backintheclay]

BTW, you can purchase a 3 legged collapsible camping stool (was it Daiso, or the 3 coin store) for about, 300 or was it 500 yen, BUT, it has a weight limit which most Western folks might go over.

[@lynda.grace.14]

Free oranges and money for the guy who was swanning around Buck House with the Emperor and KFC III? You've lowered your expectations, I see.

[@johnbecker1996]

On the streets of Joetsu, they play "Coming Through the Rye" at 6:00 pm. No idea how they chose that.

[@bhgemini]

In the US in the late 90s to Aughts, they would play Closing Time by Semisonic

[@Royalrights]

I used to bartend for a few years and would always play Closing Time by Semisonic when it was time for last call.

[@TheClintonio]

Chris disliking New Years is surprising to me.

[@TerryKitts]

Just play a "we're closing in 10 minutes - please make your final selections" announcement in English. No Japanese person will understand what it means, like decorative English on Japanese packaging. --- Side note: I noticed you don't cover odd railways in Japan. I've heard that they have a cat as the stationmaster at one of the Japanese railroads. That would be interesting.

[@YaBoyRagnarsty]

Chris actually covers the kitty station master in his book. If I remember rightly, it was for a cat documentary.

[@MrMBinder]

What are some of the best fireworks displays in the Summer in Japan? I've only been to one, which took me by complete surprise, but it was insane - the Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Festival / 東京湾大華火祭 in 2010, I saw it from Odaiba. There was a ton of people there since it was held in the evening directly after Comiket closed 😅

[@TheKingOfBeans]

Chris “I hate new years celebrations” Broad

[@CDBIII]

How did neither of you guys think Semisonic’s Closing Time would be the most apropos? I mean, it writes itself!

[@roberttreborable]

in Lucky KUTCHAN While playing Old Lang Sine they announce in English the store is closing..

[@XYoukaiX]

I kinda doubt it would help saying it in english as most of the "troublesome" tourists are from China or Korea. we just had the police over in school (langauge school in shinjuku) and they told us the worst folks are Chinese and Korean even handing out special informations for the Chinese people in class only XD

[@MilanDavidovic-rj7sd]

Speaking of Auld Lang Syne, do Tigers fans still sing it at home games when the visiting pitcher is changed?

[@saltycross]

💜💜💜

[@merrydaye4763]

Why would people magically know the new song means Get Out? Makes no sense 😂

[@baeber]

hmmm oranges sound pretty good about now

[@laarr12000]

SHCOOL’S OUT!

[@clintromine802]

Chris you have that lady give you cookies

[@IAmDemonDog]

Hey! This is the very same Philip from the story. if you all want pictures i can put them on my twitter? i don't have pictures of the family, but i do have plenty of the shrine and other adventures It was truly magical. We got around town with printed maps, and a garmin. iPhones were out, be they were pretty expensive and bringing them overseas was crazy expensive. I feel like we got into more unique and fun situations because we kept getting lost. On our way out, we stayed in Tokyo. I want to see the live action GEGEGE movie, had no idea where it was. My hostel (ks house in asakusa) told us to go to shinjuku and that was about it. Again, if it wasn't for strangers and a record store, we would have never found it 😂

[@nobodysbusiness87]

Lamb of god - Blood junkie. That should chase most people out.

[@mickeyiael9013]

❣💌❣

[@colinmathie2710]

Guaranteed its probably Scottish foreign tourists that have complained about Auld Lang Syne, and yes its Syne, not Zyne 😂 being played at closing time, as a Scot we only ever hear it on Hogmanay tbh.

[@alisabailey872]

How about Closing Time.... seems right. 🤔😏

[@TheKingOfBeans]

How about losing time seems right?

[@harrysmith2128]

Some of these listeners stories have to be creative writing exercises, getting handed ¥10,000 a car ride and oranges is stretching the limits of plausibility.

[@bitfreakazoid]

Whoa. Some stores are getting rid of it because some foreign tourists don't know what it means? That's extremely sad. It's a part of the Japanese culture. This is just a further erosion of what makes Japan special and just turns it into a mush of every other country. If some foreign tourist is still in the store because they didn't know what it meant, you just say that the store is closing to that individual in any manner you can.

[@TheBaldr]

Japanese having to confront a foreign tourist, you might have better luck convincing a extreme arachnophobic person to catch a spider.

[@technosworld2]

Many grocery stores in the U.S. have a "we're closing in 15 minutes" message where they literally say it, so not sure why you can't play the same song with an english message in the beginning or end (realizing that foreigners can include many other languages but the odds of understanding the meaning are higher)

[@susanlindarice]

think uk stores do it like M+S?

[@noxnox7445]

Do you think this is possible for small or individual stores? For example, is it possible to display Spanish in the U.S., which is the second most common language in the U.S. after English?

[@Mobik_]

The Japanese version of Auld Lang Syne is Hotaru no Hikari and I hope they keep it as I love thay song so much. I hate foreigns

[@tsubasa_cat6991]

🛵

[@bitfreakazoid]

Okinawan's don't even like mainlanders.

[@lordbarron3352]

In response to this week's question, military bases arent looked fondly upon particularly recently because a black US soldier stationed at an okinawan base was charged for kidnapping and r*pe of a minor

[@TheKingOfBeans]

Don’t bring race into it

[@adim.7090]

​@@TheKingOfBeanswhen it's the majority of statistics you kind of see a pattern

[@TokyoXtreme]

@@TheKingOfBeansI think the perpetrator was the one who brought his race into it.

[@KIKITHEPLUG]

Please for the love of god don’t bring a camping chair

[@elenakursteiner4729]

Political correct Comments are : Only and Wellcome ❤

[@TheKingOfBeans]

What

[@lushfruit]

Podcast 14 of asking Christ to speedrun nearly every main temple in Tokyo !! Its quite sad to start seeing the hate that is starting from all of the 'overtourism' Its easy for tourists because they can come and leave the country, whilst the people living here get most of the repurcussions instead

[@Stephen-up3sd]

Admirable persistence!

[@lushfruit]

@@Stephen-up3sd I am on day 133 with Mudan, persistance is slowly becoming madness

[@TheKingOfBeans]

@@lushfruitwhat the hell are you on about

[@Toe_Merchant]

Of all the KZbinrs on Earth Chris is the last one to humor a silly suggestion like that, he puts enormous effort in his videos and only does what he's interested in.

[@psychoterrorism]

I hate to admit it, but I was once shamefully escorted out of a Bic Camera in Tokyo about 15 minutes past closing time. I most certainly did not understand the musical cue! Although it wasn't a full scale international incident, I had been drinking earlier in the day, and had of course walked some ridiculous distance around the city, so the lure of the full body massage chair section was just too much for me to resist. Due to being in a seated position, I think I evaded the attention of the staff, who had begun the process of closing the store, including the front shutters! All this came as a surprise to me when I got up, picked out a bottle of whisky to purchase, and was politely stopped on the way to the counter by a man who despite speaking no English at all, managed to very quickly convey that the store had closed. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the staff were extremely nice about the whole thing, allowing me to complete my (tax free!) purchase, then escorting me out of the store, which necessitated a trip across the store, down the service elevator, through the loading dock, and out the back door. Every member of staff along the way bowed and said thank you as I left! Very embarrassing for me, but a credit to the professionalism and good manners of the Japanese people. I find it amazing that others find Japan to be an unhelpful place, because in my experience people there will go to surprising lengths to help strangers. People in the service or hospitality industry especially so, given that unlike in most other countries, they take their work seriously.