Just after I started blogging, there was a fire near our house, which razed 8 or 9 nearby properties to the ground and killed one lady. Luckily, we were fine. When I turned on the news this morning, I was shocked to see the local Don Quixote discount store had burned to the ground. Don Quixote is a chain of stores which sells, for want of a better phrase, cheap crap. They pile it up high, and there is dangerously little room to move in their stores. We shop there occasionally, and I bought Megumi an oven for Christmas there a few years ago.
Well, apparently their policy of opening until 2am has upset a few people, and some people living close to their stores have complained. Last night, in what appearsa to be a concerted series of arson attacks, 3 of their stores were set alight. I just saw on the news that 3 employees died in the fires, and all Don Quixote stores have closed today until they find out what happened. Sad news, and the fact that it was so close to home is somewhat worrying.
Yahoo story (will not stay at this url long)
Gary, that is just way too close for comfort... again. Uh... yep, very worrying. Happy you're both safe though.
Posted by: Cornelius Smith II at December 14, 2004 10:29 PMWe are obviously very closeted in the UK as natural disasters (read earthquakes) don't appear too often but to have 2 fires in as many years so close by is very worrying. Even worse that people lost their lives through the greed of store owners.
As a slight and lighthearted aside, why were you buying Megumi an oven for Christmas?
Posted by: Trudi at December 15, 2004 07:58 AMOh, wow, that's horrible. Never been to Don Quixote before, even though there's a store in Mitaka (where I live). Glad you and Megumi are safe!
Posted by: Jessica at December 15, 2004 11:34 AMShit ouch!
I went to a Don Quixote, in Shibuya I believe.
Didn't realise they were such a moody company. Spend a bit more on health and safety eh?? Bastards!
Sorry to hark back, but December 08... I've raised a glass...I didn't realise, but your treasure Rosie's birthday....Well, its the same day as our wedding anniversary.............. A part of us will always will think of you, Rosie and Megumi in our future celebrations Gary.
Peace.
J+A
Yep, it looks like the folks at Don Quixote put profits before safety. They are obviously not the first company to do this. When I was at school I used to work part-time for a similar discount store, and we piled stuff up dangerously high. When I went to see Megumi at a couple of her shops a few years ago, I remember being shocked to see boxes stock all over the 'emergency stairs' - it was impossible to move. I asked her about it, but she said it was quite normal.
Oh, and she wanted the oven, Trudi. Her choice, not mine...although she did make a lovely lasagne using it yesterday, which we both enjoyed.
Posted by: Gary at December 16, 2004 04:33 PMGlad you were both safe. What are you getting Megumi for Valentine's? A vacuum cleaner???
Posted by: Phil at December 17, 2004 07:11 AMIronic thing about Japan is they do not learn lesson from other countries. It seems like they have that "It won't happen here attitude". I live near the city that had 100 people die in a night club fire 2 years ago, in Rhode Island. 1/3 of the patrons. Apparently they used an unapproved foam on the walls to sound proof the club due to complaints in the neighborhood.
My daughter was just in the NUTCRACKER in Providence Rhode Island and I suggested we put the ballet bar across the hallway near the back door to keep the parents of the small children at bay while they were waiting to pick them after the performance. Anyway the Security said "No can do because you never know if the Fire Marshal (Inspector) will walk through, and if they see something out of order the theater gets fined". I thought "What are the odds of that happening" Well wouldn't you know if two days of performances the fire marshal came through twice.
I say all that to say Japan is not so strict when it comes to safety. Except for the anual office fire drill.
On that note, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Posted by: Paul at December 17, 2004 12:58 PMCrazy ain't it? I used to shop there a lot. I was actually hoping to stop by this week to pick up a new pair of winter gloves. Sad about the employees. Its strange to have something like this happen in mostly peaceful Urawa. Maybe Don Kihote were Yokohama fans?
Posted by: Allen at December 17, 2004 01:36 PMfrom the Yahoo article:
" Fire officials inspected the 31 Don Quijote stores in Tokyo after the blazes and said they all failed safety codes."
Is anyone surprised by this, least of all those very same fire officials? While surely the store(s) share a large responsibility here for not adhering to code, tragically in this case, surely these fire officials are equally culpable, for blatantly ignoring a problem that is by no means exclusive to Don Quiote.
Posted by: Kurt at December 17, 2004 10:50 PMThe fire brigade can't be everywhere at once, it is a bloody hard (read: impossible) job to police the compliance of every business in Japan. It is like blaming the police for speeding, because they fail to monitor every car.
Paul is right, "it doesn't happen here is everywhere". I am not a fan of US-style litigation, but it does have some desirable effects.
Posted by: Dirk at December 18, 2004 12:12 AM"cheap crap"? Gary.. words cannot express my disappointment in your choice of words. I would have said "cheap random mostly-made-in-china crap that gives new meaning to the phrase 'impulse shopping'". Seriously, the entire store feels like one huge check-out aisle. I'm amazed at the junk I feel compelled to buy. And that theme song! "Don don.. do--n KEE! Don KEE HOO TEEE! Benrina-- Mi--see--". I like to sing it in the store to embarass Yoshiko.
Posted by: Rob at December 21, 2004 04:24 PMCharlie,
I deleted your entry when I found many others just like it on other blogs. Did you write the book, or are you on commission?