❶A bulk store that offers a “measure of yourself”
—-Run by a couple of architects in Hokkaido,Northern Japan.
When many Japanese visit grocery stores in the US, they're often impressed by the bulk aisles, reflecting the degree of permeation.
Not knowing how to use the lever, a large number of nuts were scattered all over the floor, causing chaos. Due to a lack of knowledge on purchasing and a lack of confidence in English, they were unable to ask for help and instead stared at the items in dismay.
Upon returning to Japan, many suddenly wished for a similar bulk shop in their neighborhood. These are my personal stories, representing the experiences of many Japanese.
To my delight, in recent years, the number of stores offering bulk sales in Japan has been increasing, though at a slow pace. Still, it's not common in most areas. These stores mainly sell nuts, dried fruits, and other items commonly found in Western countries. However, this small shop nestled in the heart of a narrow building is a different case.
Here is "Hakariuri to Monosashi Torocco[はかり売りとものさし トロッコ＝Bulk shop and Measure of Trolley]" . They sell local kelp from Hokkaido, furoshiki cloth made of organic cotton, and before New Year's, rice decorations from a florist friend, grown in their home base, Sapporo,Hokkaido.
The more one inquires, the clearer it becomes that this is a specialty store that challenges the standard for bulk shops, not only in Japan but even in the US. What's even more remarkable is the individuals behind the business. Shinpei Abe and Chie Shimoyama, the owners, are both architects by profession.
I vividly recall a visit to "Torocco," a renowned architectural office, back in 2015, when a friend took me there. During our visit, the couple mentioned something along these lines quite casually:
"We work in architecture not merely to construct buildings, but to create opportunities for people to reconsider their approach to food, clothing, and shelter—how to live. That's why we delve into each individual's philosophy of life and design alongside them."
A few years later, when I discovered that they had opened a bulk shop, their voices, spoken so matter-of-factly, emerged from a corner of my memory like a missing puzzle piece, echoing a clue in their calm tone.
‘Inherit and connect’ rather than ‘tear down and build’
The store is located in Sapporo, Japan's northernmost and largest city in Hokkaido, which also has a sister city relationship with Portland OR.
Situated on an upper floor, the store isn't your typical street-front establishment; it's a long, narrow building, making it less accessible for casual passersby. Moreover, at that time, the concept of "weighing and selling" was still unfamiliar to most people.
Nevertheless, despite their lack of experience in retail management, opening the store felt like a natural progression for the duo.
“We had previously designed the interior of this store, so when the original owner decided to close the store, we were approached immediately.
In everyday life, we try not to buy products that create garbage and use recyclable as much as possible. That is why we decided to take over the place, as we knew how to use it, rather than just have it demolished and destroyed. We had always dreamed to open a bulk store, so the place was familiar and ideal and we started preparing”
They also added, “We never intended to be solely engaged in architecture in the first place”.
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