it's all about price hikes, price hikes, price hikes.
It's enough to make one scream.
These days, I feel the need to tighten my purse strings even more,as tight as a mooring knot.
But then again, my wallet doesn't have strings; it has a zipper,so I can't tighten it even if I wanted to,and I don't even know how to tie a mooring knot.
That's why, lately,I've been trying to have a dialogue with my other self when buying things.
On my way home from work,there was a shop selling curry bread at the entrance of the station.
And it was branded as "Daikanyama's Curry Bread.""Daikanyama!"Somehow, it struck a chord with my taste buds.
"Daikanyama? What does it taste like? I'm curious."
At the same time,
"If this were Kitasenju, my heart wouldn't be moved at all, definitely not!"
I realized I had a hidden bias deep down.
"Alright, I'm going to buy it.
I'll savor the taste of Daikanyama!"
As I reached for my wallet,
"Wait a minute!" said a voice.
It was my other self.
"What's so special about Daikanyama?
What does it matter if it's from Daikanyama?
Is there such a thing as a 'Daikanyama' flavor?"
That's right, that's true."Daikanyama" is just a place name, nothing more, nothing less.
It's just a piece of land defined by that name.
After all, I only know "Daikanyama" as a mere existence. I passed through it over a decade ago,without any sweet or bitter memories.
I don't know why I expected the taste of curry from "Daikanyama.
"I don't know why "Kitasenju" wouldn't do either.
Curry made anywhere is still curry.There's no reason to buy it just because it's from "Daikanyama.”
So I decided not to buy the curry bread.
Those ten seconds I was swayed and stopped in my tracks.
I made up my mind and resumed my journey home.
And then, suddenly, I wanted to eat croquettes.
Croquettes from Okachimachi, a place I've never been to.
I wonder why?
Reading this text made me deeply contemplate consumer behavior in modern society and the influence of place branding. The author realizes an attraction to curry bread named after Daikanyama and then depicts a process of introspection and dialogue with oneself to reassess purchasing behavior. This introspective process highlights the temptations of consumer society we face daily and the importance of self-control in response to them.
What struck me most was the scene where the author questions the psychology behind being drawn to the name “Daikanyama.” The author skillfully expresses how the image and expectations associated with a place name can influence our choices, regardless of the actual value of the product. Recognizing and overcoming the prejudice and preconceptions associated with that place name is something that many readers can likely relate to.
Furthermore, the conclusion, where the heart is swayed by croquettes from Okachimachi, demonstrates how mysterious and unpredictable human psychology can be. We are sometimes drawn to things without reason, leading to choices that transcend rationality.
This text is highly suggestive, prompting us to consider how we make consumption choices and how those choices are shaped by self-awareness and social influence. After reading, I revisited my own consumer behavior and re-acknowledged the importance of investing in truly valuable things.