https://www.city-cost.comCity-Cost is an interesting new way to find and share useful financial and living information in Japan. Make your life easier and help others with City-CostenCopyright © 2015 - 2026 City-Cost All Rights Reserved.webmaster@city-cost.com (CC Team)https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/wmJXg-living_food_kagawa_shodoshima_cho_kagawaToday, and March 15th annually, is Olive Day オリーブの日 in Japan. It traces its origins to Shōdoshima in Kagawa Prefecture. It is said that Japan started agriculture experiments on the island in 1910. The success of the 1910 plantings became the foundation of Japan’s olive industry, eventually leading to the island’s identity as the country’s “olive birthplace.”"Olive day" was established in 1972 by the local “Association to Protect Olives,” inspired by a meaningful historic moment. In 1950 the Shōwa Emperor visited the island and personally sowed olive seeds. Those seeds successfully sprouted and have since grown into a dignified, mature tree - a living symbol of care, continuity, and quiet resilience. Olives thrive in dry climates, and their successful cultivation on Shōdoshima marked a turning point in Japan’s agricultural experimentation.The anniversary encourages people to learn more about olives, their history, and their cultural significance. Events on Shōdoshima highlight the island’s long relationship with this Mediterranean tree and how it formed its olive country image.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/wmJXg-living_food_kagawa_shodoshima_cho_kagawaSun, 15 Mar 2026 15:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/wmJXg-living_food_kagawa_shodoshima_cho_kagawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/z87mY-shopping_saitamaMarch 15th is World Consumer Rights Day. It highlights the essential rights that protect people in their everyday purchases and decisions. The date traces back to 1962, when U.S. President John F. Kennedy declared in a congressional address that consumers have fundamental rights.President Kennedy identified four fundamental rights: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, and the right to be heard. This statement became a turning point, giving shape to modern consumer protection movements around the world. Japan adopted a slightly different model, but there is a legal framework that emphasizes fairness and safety. There is a Consumer Protection Act since 1968 and a Consumer Contract Act since 2000.However, despite that, I find Europe, where I am from, much more transparent and fairer with their consumer rights. For example, you can return items in Japan, but not with the broad, no‑questions‑asked, 30‑day right that many European countries guarantee. Moreover, in my home country, Ireland, you are also entitled to your money back within that time frame for returned goods that are unused, something which seems to a foreign concept in Japan.However, all that being said, I am actually not familiar with my consumer rights in Japan. My Japanese husband is also not familiar with them. Meanwhile at home, without any effort, the general public know exactly what they are entitled to and consumer right information is widely available. Do you know your consumer rights in Japan?Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/z87mY-shopping_saitamaSun, 15 Mar 2026 14:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/z87mY-shopping_saitamahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/GRdWg-living_tokyoMarch 15th annually marks the day that Western-style footwear truly took root in Japan. According to the Japan Footwear Federation, the date marks the founding of Japan’s first Western shoe factory in 1870. Thus, March 15th annually is known as Shoe Day 靴の日（くつのひ).A monument now stands in Chūō Ward marking this birthplace of Japan’s shoe industry. Its inscription explains that this site represents the origin of domestic shoemaking. Apparently, the project began with a practical need: imported military boots were far too large for Japanese soldiers. At the suggestion of Ōmura Masujirō, the father of the modern Japanese army, the factory was established to create boots that fit Japanese feet.The photo in this post is of shoes lined up outside a hall at a school. It is quite common to have to take shoes off to go into a school hall. There are cubbyholes to store shoes, but for larger than normal events - such as a graduation - there aren't enough cubbyholes for everyone, so they put down a blue sheet, like the one pictured, for people to place their shoes!Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/GRdWg-living_tokyoSun, 15 Mar 2026 14:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/GRdWg-living_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/TonetoEdo/MYaOB-drink_productIn March 2026, Sapporo Breweries released Sapporo Extra Move in their Black Label line of beers. The beer has 5.5% alcohol content and is brewed with foreign and domestic malt.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/TonetoEdo/MYaOB-drink_productSun, 15 Mar 2026 12:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/TonetoEdo/MYaOB-drink_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/zKnxN-foods_productThis product is one of four Cherry Blossom Mochi Donuts available from Mister Donut stores right now - this one is the Spring Strawberry Whipped Daifuku Style.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/zKnxN-foods_productSun, 15 Mar 2026 11:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/zKnxN-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/Gyjm3-foods_productThis product is one of the four Sakura mochi Donuts from Misdo at the moment, this one is the Floral Strawberry Milk Custard flavor. It's priced at 220 yen including tax for dine in.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/Gyjm3-foods_productSun, 15 Mar 2026 11:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/Gyjm3-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/z1Koo-foods_productThis product is one of four Cherry Blossom Mochi Donuts from Misdo, this one is the "Blooming Strawberry Milk" option. It's priced at 220 yen for eat in, slightly cheaper for to-go.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/z1Koo-foods_productSun, 15 Mar 2026 10:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/z1Koo-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/Gogr9-foods_productThis product is one of the four Cherry Blossom Mochi Donuts from Misdo - this one is the Spring Scented Strawberry Flavor. It's priced at 209 yen for eat in, slightly cheaper if you get it to-go.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/Gogr9-foods_productSun, 15 Mar 2026 10:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/Gogr9-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/TonetoEdo/z3Ry2-fashion_productHamamonyo is a textile manufacturer in Yokohama. This item is a furoshiki labeled Ume Ume Tsukushi furoshiki. The cloth is 100% cotton and 50 cm square.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/TonetoEdo/z3Ry2-fashion_productSun, 15 Mar 2026 08:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/TonetoEdo/z3Ry2-fashion_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/wNj5j-food_saitamaMarch 14th annually is White Day in Japan. White Day began around 1977 / 1978 through the drive of mainly the confectionery industry and later embraced as a cultural tradition. Marketing campaigns pushed it as a day for men to give back to the women they received chocolates from on Valentines Day. Because in Japan, women give to men on Valentine's Day.Reportedly, the idea was born from a letter in a women's magazine that complained men didn't return Valentine's gifts. The industry homed in on the opportunity and promoted a day for men to give white marshmallows or white chocolate to show their "white heart", as white symbolizes purity and innocent love. Moreover, the day reinforced Japan’s strong culture of okaeshi (obligatory return gifts). March 14th was chosen as it is a month after Valentines Day.By the early 1980s the name "White Day" had been adopted, from the white marshmallows and other white gifts that had become popular gifts for the day. However, now you rarely see marshmallows being championed for White Day. Over the years the type of gifts given has evolved. Nowadays, you mainly see a lot of chocolates, cookies and candies, and they aren't necessarily white!Did you get any gifts this White Day?Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/wNj5j-food_saitamaSat, 14 Mar 2026 21:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/wNj5j-food_saitama