This is a copy-n-paste of a mail I sent to one of those groups which
functions mainly as a place for Debito to post his press releases.
I thought my favorite bunch of reprobates might get a kick out of it:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Not a big deal, nor anything other than what I expected when I walked
into the store, but I still gave them a ration of shit over it.
Thought I'd share....


Today, around noon, I stopped by a Family Mart in Nerima-ku and
noticed that they were having a big sign-up campaign for a new Family
Mart credit card they're introducing. I recognized the regular store
staff from multiple previous visits to the store. They were all just
performing their regular duties. FM had sent in some outside help to
do the campaign work.

One was stationed by the door. One was stationed by the ATM. And a
couple more wore working the aisles of the store. Of course, they were
attempting to pass out card applications to everyone who came in.

Everyone except me, that is. The door guy, who had been
enthusiastically greeting all comers and offering applications to
them, stood there still as a statue and silent as the grave when I
came in.

So I thought I'd pass by the ATM guy and see what happened. Same
thing. Ditto the two guys working the aisles.

Just to make certain how aggressive they were in accosting any and all
customers, I wandered around the store for perhaps 10 minutes (I went
in at about 12:10 and left at 12:25), passing slowly by each of the
campaign staff, looking just as approachable and unhurried as I could
to give them ample opportunities to make their pitch to me.

What happened each time was the still-n-silent statue impersonation,
immediately replaced with aggressive accosting of the nearest Japanese
customer the instant I had passed by them. Hell, they were following
customers around the store continuing their harrangue as the customers
attempted to complete their shopping.

After that had gone on about 10 minutes and I figured I had amply
observed the degree of their agressivity and given them at least a
dozen chances to make their offer to me I decided it was time to ask
if there was some reason for what was quite obviously an effort to
studiously ignore me.

What ensued was one of those bizarre situations where Japanese
adamantly maintain that they are NOT discriminating....and
discriminating all the while they're doing it. Anyone who has ever
gone apartment hunting in Japan has probably encountered this and can
relate to what I'm talking about.

As I was embarassing them by making a stink in the crowded store,
right next to the table where a couple of customers (one of them a
high school boy) were filling out applications, they very quickly
tried to usher me into the storeroom to continue the conversation.
Since raising a public stink over it was exactly what I wanted to do I
remained right where I was.

I got the name and employee number of the main guy (who was from the
FM Honbu) and wrote it down for future reference. I wish I had thought
to ask for his name card.

No, I don't care to sue Family Mart or the campaign staff. Nor do I
really care to bother with contacting the Honbu and registering a
complaint with them. I met the situation as it was, where it was, and
dealt with it just about as much as I care to. But I thought my fellow
foreigners in Japan might wish to keep an eye on their neighborhood
Family Mart and watch to see when they put on a credit card sign-up
campaign. If you have a few minutes to spare, wander around and make
it obvious that you are in no hurry to leave the store. I'm interested
in seeing if anyone gets approached and offered an application.





--

Michael Cash

"I am sorry, Mr. Cash, but we are unable to accept your rap sheet in lieu of
a high school transcript."

                                Dr. Howard Sprague
                                Dean of Admissions
                                Mount Pilot College