In the early 17th Century, Miguel de Cervantes wrote a Spanish novel called “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha,” otherwise known simply as “Don Quixote.” Literary scholars generally agree the book is one of the founding works of Western Literature – perhaps the first modern novel. A unique blend of humor, tragedy, and social commentary, Don Quixote explores the conflict between Don Quixote’s romanticized view of the world and the harsh realities he encounters, highlighting the power of imagination and the importance of critical thinking.
In contemporary usage, a “Don Quixote” is someone who is determined to change what is wrong, but who does so in a way that is silly or not practical.
In Japan, Don Quijote (note the replacement of the “X” with a “J”) is a whole different animal.
Nicknamed “Donki” by the locals, Don Quijote is one of the biggest discount store chains in Japan, popular for its convenience and discounts. Founded in 1980, it boasts nearly 750 stores nationwide and sells a wide range of products, from Rolexes to snacks to adult toys.
Think of it as the Japanese Walmart – on steroids.
The megastore’s sanitized interpretation of Don Quixote’s message: “Always ready for new challenges.” Including, I suppose, tilting at bargains.
Entering a Don Quijote is like stepping into a fully-charged pachinko parlor. Multi-colored lights flash at you from a thousand garish displays! Products are stacked and crammed into every available inch of floorspace. Many of the displays even talk to you! (Or rather, talk at you.)
One could easily imagine getting a stroke in Don Quijote, from the dozens of strobe lights demanding your attention to the preponderance of Japanese signs punctuated with multiple, insistent, exclamation marks!!!
Should I be embarrassed to admit that I love the Don Quijote experience? The place is totally bonkers! It’s the antithesis of a Zen garden. Think Japanese TV game shows, where contestants get rubber balls fired at them from a cannon as they walk a tightrope across a pit of lava. It’s the side of the country that says, “Don’t take yourself so darn seriously!”
In my opinion, no Don Quijote outlet in Japan rivals the one in Osaka’s Dotonbori district. It flogs all the usual goods, of course – a whole wall of costumes…another wall of anime and Godzillas… entire sections of rice crackers, soft drinks and cosmetics. If you can crave it, you can find it in this store.
What throws the Osaka Don Quijote over the top is its ferris wheel built right into the street-facing façade! That and the 50-foot smiling figure of a heavy-set Japanese man with a fu manchu moustache and beard, embracing his smiling penguin pal, Donpen. Sporting a red nightcap, Donpen apparently symbolizes the store’s midnight hours.
Because – of course he does.
Would I want to work in a Don Quijote? Not if I value my sanity. But would I go there again the next time I’m in Japan? Absolutely. The store offer a singular shopping/entertainment experience that will knock you off your feet.
Or at least, have you tilting.
(When you think of a visit to Japan, you probably imagine wandering the Samurai-era streets of Kyoto, ducking into ancient, venerable temples or perhaps stumbling upon a geisha. Maybe it’s the cuisine that tempts you, or the gorgeous country hot springs. But garish retail shopping? Not the usual image of this country. It’s the same with people, isn’t it? You meet someone who possesses a title of status – a doctor, professor, congressman, judge – and you assume that they’re going to act in a solemn, stately manner. Only to discover they’re a total goof ball in real life – a person who plays pickleball on the weekends and collects Taylor Swift bracelets. The point is, don’t take reputations and pre-conceived notions too seriously. No matter how somber the world gets, there’s always a place for silliness right under the surface.)
(Dave Blum is the creator of Dr. Clue Treasure Hunts, www.drclue.com, a teambuilding company featuring over 150 treasure hunt locations worldwide. He has visited over 40 countries in his 60+ years of life and plans to keep traveling until he gives up the ghost. Dave lives in Northern California with his wife, Donica, and their 18-year-old Maine Coon, Ava — an indoor cat who dreams of one day escaping captivity and exploring her own neighborhood Wow Places.)