JapanRA Competitors

MUJI was founded in 1980. Its origin was a thorough rationalization of the manufacturing process with an eye to creating simple, low-cost, good quality products. Specifically, we reexamined products through three lenses: material selection, inspection process and simplification of packaging. For instance, if you omit the bleaching process for pulp, the resulting paper is light beige in color. MUJI used this paper for its packaging and labels. The ensuing products are remarkably pure and fresh. In notable contrast to the prevailing over-embellished products in the marketplace, MUJI's products both won great appreciation and sent shock waves not only through Japan but across the entire world. Mujirushi Ryohin, MUJI in Japanese, translates as "no-brand quality goods." MUJI's goal is to give customers a rational satisfaction, expressed not with, "This is what I really want" but with "This will do." "This is what I really want" expresses both faint egoism and discord while "This will do" expresses conciliatory reasoning. We have been credited with being "resource-saving", "low-priced", "simple", "anonymous" and "nature-oriented". There are more than 1,000 MUJI stores around the world carrying more than 7,000 items ranging from clothing and household goods to food and even houses. But the foundation of our ideology hasn't changed since the day we were conceived; like the compass that points due North, we continue to orient ourselves to the basis and universality of daily life.

Japan Centre began life in 1976 with a suitcase full of Japanese books and an idea to cater for the community of Japanese people living in London. A further desire to help bridge the gap between the contrasting cultures of Japan and the UK led to its first premises opening in 1980 as a bookshop and martial arts equipment store on London’s Brewer Street. Japan Centre has since grown to become one of the largest and most influential Japanese shops in London, adding a supermarket, bakery, deli, restaurant, homeware department and online service to its repertoire. Japancentre.com was launched in 2005 to provide our Japan Centre store experience to everyone living outside London and the UK. Our mission has always been to offer the best value Japanese food online, the best variety and the best service. This means we work hard to provide an up to date, well stocked website, excellent customer service and invaluable information regarding all areas of Japanese cooking to ensure that your experience shopping at Japancentre.com will be unforgettable.