The New and the Rare: Luxury and Convenience in Japanese Depa-chika

In the face of economic adversity, the food sections of Japan's department stores have prospered, attracting large numbers of customers with their fresh produce, luxurious dishes and buzzing market-like atmospheres. Masaaki Takahashi describes how these depa-chika have not only met the demand for prepared foods among busy working people, but have also stimulated it. Selling the finest delicacies, they tempt their customers with rare items that are often bought for their novelty value alone.