In the United States, Japanese cuisine known for its quality and exquisite craftsmanship is beloved by people of all ethnicities. On Saturday, the 26th, the renowned Japanese food retailer Marukai Corporation opened its new store, “Tokyo Central,” in Irvine, Orange County, Southern California. Thousands of customers flocked to the grand opening to enjoy the surprises and discounts offered at the new store.
Around 8 am, while many other shops in the commercial plaza at 14120 Culver Dr. in Irvine had yet to open, a long line had already formed in front of the newly opened “Tokyo Central” food supermarket. The queue wrapped around the side of the store and extended to the back, with dozens of flower baskets arranged on either side of the entrance, adding to the festive atmosphere.
To celebrate the opening of the store, over a dozen drummers were invited to perform the powerful “Ryukyu Taiko” in front of the store, attracting hundreds of onlookers.
Mr. Koichi Toyo, the President of Marukai Corporation, attended the opening ceremony and welcomed guests on behalf of the company. He mentioned the close connection the company maintains with Japan, allowing them to directly convey Californians’ love for food to Japan and collaborate with local enterprises to provide products tailored to the tastes of the local customers.
Mr. Toyo also addressed some of the customers’ concerns, stating that the company is initiating a new store expansion plan starting from California and plans to open stores in other states in the future. He sees the American market as offering promising growth opportunities and aims to enhance the brand recognition of “Tokyo Central” through the promotion of Japanese culture and cuisine, further strengthening the connection with the community.
Akira Maruyama, the Head of Overseas Operations for Tokyo Central’s restaurant and retail division, introduced the menu of the new store, featuring a variety of desserts, ice creams, tea sets, and famous dishes that promise fresh and elegant dining experiences every visit. He emphasized that the restaurant aims to share Japanese culture, cooking techniques, and diverse lifestyles to enrich customers’ daily lives.
Upon stepping into the supermarket, visitors immediately sense the meticulousness of the Japanese: the spacious environment is spotless, with a well-organized display of various foods categorized for different ethnic customer preferences.
The tastes of Japanese and Chinese people are quite similar, and Chinese customers can find a variety of daily ingredients here. Just in tofu, there are over ten types available, with prices on the opening day noticeably lower than some Chinese supermarkets: a package of approximately 1 pound of tofu costs less than $1.
Other food counters also feature multiple brands. The beef counter, for instance, offers high-quality beef from Japan alongside select beef suitable for middle-class families. There are nearly ten types of Japanese rice loved by Chinese consumers, including small packages of white rice, brown rice, catering to various tastes and health needs.
In the vegetable section, customers can find a variety of fresh vegetables preferred by the Chinese community that may be hard to find in Western supermarkets, such as radishes, mung bean sprouts, baby bok choy, and napa cabbage, all readily available.
“Tokyo Central” also caters to working professionals with popular meal options. On the opening day, there were over a dozen pre-prepared meals available, including bowls of ramen, beef, seafood, and eggs, at very competitive prices. Apart from food, the store also sells a range of beauty and skincare products imported from Japan.
Among the long queues of customers from different ethnicities, many Chinese individuals were spotted. John, a young man from Taiwan, praised the deliciousness of Japanese food. Having visited the “Tokyo Central” store in Costa Mesa before, he had a lasting impression of the beef meatballs and udon noodles there, hence making a visit to the new store with his friends. “We have been waiting for a year, seeing the store building expand every time we pass by, and today we finally get to enter,” he said.
Another Chinese lady, Julien, who had lived in Japan for a period and worked at a Japanese company in the United States, expressed her love for Japanese food, citing its safety and trustworthiness. Despite being a bit more expensive, she appreciates that it makes her feel disciplined. She marveled, “Japanese people do things so well. Wherever they go, they abide by local laws, and this spirit is something we (Chinese) should emulate.”
Deputy Mayor James Mai of Irvine and Chinese-American Councilmember Melinda Liu attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the “Tokyo Central” grand opening that day, jointly presenting a certificate of recognition to the store. Mai expressed his long-awaited excitement for the new store opening and thanked “Tokyo Central” for choosing to operate in Irvine, contributing to the community. He stated, “Your presence is very important to us. On behalf of the entire city, I thank you for investing your time and bringing employment opportunities here.”
Liu also congratulated the grand opening of “Tokyo Central” and wished them immense success in the future. ◇