Having my hair styled while chatting about trivial things at the beauty salon is a simple joy. Even though it takes over an hour to get to the salon, I’ve been going there for years, so there’s a sense of comfort, and I have no intention of switching to another salon.

Did you know that there is a butcher shop in Japan that sells croquettes that have a 43-year waiting list?

I have been living in Japan for a long time, but I learned about it for the first time today. I was astonished that a business that makes you wait 43 years for your purchase to be delivered after you pay the money can survive, when no one can foresee what will happen to themselves or their surroundings in 43 years. I thought it was some kind of joke at first.

In case you’re interested, their croquettes are on sale for 2700 yen for 5 pieces plus shipping.

Yesterday I tried to purchase an item on Amazon, but nowhere on the product detail page does it state the shipping cost. It only says ‘Free shipping on orders over 3,500 yen,’ but the item is less than 2,000 yen, so shipping should apply, yet it’s not listed anywhere. Even looking at the seller’s page and related links, there’s no mention of it. In the end, I went through the purchase process up to the checkout, and still, the shipping cost wasn’t displayed, so I decided not to buy it. I wonder isn’t it a violation of some law in Japan to not make clear about shipping or other costs beyond the price of the item?

Misleading button labels that cause consumer confusion on Amazon Prime subscriptions, or these kinds of hidden costs, feel like a dishonest practice. Lately, the reasons for not shopping on Amazon are just piling up for me.