Wesleyan University, College of East Asian Studies Lecture (2017)
"At Your Konbini: Small Stores, Globalization, and Livelihood in Contemporary Japan"
In Japan, the convenience store, or konbini, sets the standard for fast mass customer service and “localized” global retail. Formally introduced to the island nation in the 1970s, the American convenience store franchise model and associated distribution system have restructured Japanese retail, transforming the neighborhood corner shop into a competitive commercial force with global ties and mass appeal. This lecture examines the ways this everyday place offers new perspectives on the study of Japan and globalization.
"At Your Konbini: Small Stores, Globalization, and Livelihood in Contemporary Japan"
In Japan, the convenience store, or konbini, sets the standard for fast mass customer service and “localized” global retail. Formally introduced to the island nation in the 1970s, the American convenience store franchise model and associated distribution system have restructured Japanese retail, transforming the neighborhood corner shop into a competitive commercial force with global ties and mass appeal. This lecture examines the ways this everyday place offers new perspectives on the study of Japan and globalization.