The “shoumi kigen” – best before date – is displayed on food packaging sold in supermarkets and other stores.
This does not mean that you are unable to eat food that is past the date, but stores do not sell it as the taste deteriorates.
Coming near closing, many stores lower the price of unsold food, such as packs of sushi and side dishes.
One day, I visited a friend of mine who is an owner of a cake store.
I asked him, “How’s business going?”
He replied with a pun, “Uchi no ke-ki no hyouban wa ii kedo, ke-ki ga warui.” (Our cake has a good reputation, but business is bad)
His wife who manages the store said, shrugging her shoulders, “A few went unsold today, too.”
Then he said, looking at me, “Your wife likes cakes, doesn’t she?”
As I nodded, his wife shook her head saying, “No, it’s not a good idea to give away leftovers.”
I said, “Can’t you sell leftovers cheaply?” Then she had to say this.
“If a first time customer eats it, the rumor that our cakes are not delicious will spread, and as a result our customers will decrease. We have no choice but to throw them away.”
As I muttered “What a waste,” my friend said, “Well then, these were made this morning, but why don’t you try them?” and he put some unsold cakes into a box.
When I returned home, I handed the cake box to my wife, pretending I’d bought them myself.
Delighted, my wife bit into the cake and exclaimed, “Wow! This is the most delicious cake I’ve ever had!”
I don’t eat cake since I am not fond of sweets, but I again thought that it was a waste to throw away those that my wife happily ate and declared delicious.
My wife who doesn’t know the truth innocently said, “Buy me this cake again please.”
(From July issue, 2014 / 2014年7月号より)
スーパー
Su-pa-
supermarkets
販売される
hanbai sareru
sold
食品の包装
shokuhin no housou
food packaging
「賞味期限」が
“Shoumi’kigen” ga
(the) best before date
表示されています。
hyouji saretei masu.
is displayed
その日付が
sono hizu/duke ga
the date
食品は
shokuhin wa/ha
food
食べられない
taberarenai
(you) are unable to eat
意味ではありません
imi dewa/ha arimasen
does not mean
販売しません。
hanbai shimasen.
do not sell (it)
近づくと
chikazu/duku to
coming near
売れ残っている
urenokotte iru
unsold (food)
寿司パック
sushi’pakku
packs of sushi
価格を
kakaku o/wo
(the) price
ケーキ店
ke-ki’ten
(a) cake store
オーナーである
o-na- de aru
(who) is (an) owner
友人を
yuujin o/wo
(a) friend (of mine)
訪問しました。
houmon shimashita.
visited
「ビジネスは
“bijinesu wa/ha
business
うまくいっている?」
umaku itte iru?”
how’s going
聞きました。
kikimashita.
asked (him)
評判は
hyouban wa/ha
(a) reputation
けーき(景気)が
ke-ki (keiki) ga
business
ダジャレを
dajare o/wo
with (a) pun
仕切る
shikiru
(who) manages
奥さんは
okusan wa/ha
(his) wife
売れ残ったわよ」
ure nokotta wa yo”
went unsold
肩を
kata o/wo
(her) shoulders
すくめました。
sukumemashita.
shrugging
好きでしょう?」
suki deshou?”
likes doesn’t she
彼女は
kanojo wa/ha
(his) wife <she>
売れ残りを
Urenokori o/wo
leftovers
なんて」
nante”
(it)’s not (a) good idea
横に振りました。
yoko ni furimashita.
shook
「残ったものを
“Nokotta mono o/wo
leftovers
売らないんですか」
uranai n desu ka”
can’t you sell
言いました。
iimashita
had to say
「初めての
“Hajimete no
(a) first time
お客さんが
okyaku san ga
customer
うちのケーキは
uchi no ke-ki wa/ha
our cakes
広がり、
hirogari,
will spread and
その結果
sono kekka
as a result
お客さんが
okyaku san ga
(our) customers
減ってしまいます。
hette shimaimasu.
will decrease
捨てる
Suteru
to throw (them) away
しかないんです」
shika nai n desu”
(we) have no choice but
「もったいないね」
“Mottainai ne”
what a waste
友人は
yuujin wa/ha
(my) friend
食べてみて」
tabete mite”
why don’t (you) try (them)
ケーキを
ke-ki o/wo
(some) cakes
入れました。
iremashita.
(he) put into
買った
katta
(I)’d bought (them)
ふりをして
furi o/wo shite
pretending
ケーキの
ke-ki no
(the) cake
手渡しました。
tewatashimashita.
handed
ケーキを
ke-ki o/wo
(the) cake
口にする
kuchi ni suru
bit into
大声をあげました。
oogoe wo age mashita.
exclaimed
今まで食べた
imamade tabeta
I’ve ever had
おいしい!」
oishii!”
(is) delicious
甘い物が
amaimono ga
sweets
苦手
nigate
(I) am not fond of
おいしいと
oishii to
delicious
捨てるのは
suteru nowa/ha
to throw away
もったいない
mottainai
(it) was (a) waste
思いました。
omoimashita.
(I) thought
事実を
Jijitsu o/wo
the truth
知らない
shiranai
(who) doesn’t know
無邪気に
mujaki ni
innocently
買ってきてね」。
kattekite ne.”
buy me please