Luxury spenders defy Japan's tight-fisted reputation

The problem seems to be a lot of older people have all the money and spend it on luxury goods, while younger people are struggling to make a living and have trouble even affording everyday necessities. But that seems to be the core of Abenomics. Much like what is happening in the US with the 1%. To hell with the rest as long as they get theirs.

Articles confirms every single contemptuous thought I've ever had about the 1%.

Some other Chanel shops in Tokyo have a separate cosmetics and perfume section reserved for top Japanese customers

I understand the logic behind this, but it's called discrimination.

Money talks. What else is new?

Rich people need to constantly remind themselves of how rich they are. Dior, Prada, and Chanel do nothing more than that.

can not wait to visit, must have good food and sweet at the basement not to miss

Nice little article, neatly showing the contempt the high-end luxury goods companies have for their "nouveau-riche" clientele, happily taking their money while turning up their noses at the "not very well raised".

It's worth remembering that only a few years ago the Japanese were decried as nouveau-riche interlopers, "lying all over the sofas, touching everything".

"When you look at consumer purchasing behaviour, younger people put less value on luxury brand products" than previous generations, she said.

Good for them. Maybe when their business collapses in Japan these luxury brands will realise they're just selling overpriced handbags, something the world can live without.

Costs a lot to earn a badge of stupidity.

Um, rich people, by definition, have money to spend on luxury goods. Especially rich people who have never had to work because they live off trust funds etc.

It also tips off local clientele about the expected arrival time of tourist buses so they can avoid them.

Just be honest about it instead of issuing pathetic, sneaky tip offs. Advertise a 'riff-raff day' and show how you really think.

These people seem to be ashamed of their snobbery. Dishonest on top of sneering. How repulsive.

Dunno about Japan having a "tightfisted reputation", I think that's lazy journalism, but the story itself is quite funny. So high end consumers in Japan don't like nouveau riche hoi polloi in their shops and will actively avoid them to the extent of the shops building VIP rooms. Another little lesson into the human psyche there for anyone interested in it.

A rich life is saying yes to the things you love.

World wide if you make $32,400+ a year then you are in the 1% in terms of income of the entire world's population. If you have a net worth of around $770,000 then you are in 1% for net worth.

@Noliving Yes but those figures are extremely skewed due to the massively unequal distribution of wealth in the world. The real 1% owns about 60 to 70% of the world's wealth according to an article I read while back (I am trying to find it), and most people have nothing.

Ah, no worries! Tomorrow is premium Friday and workers will be flocking to Gonzalez tomorrow afternoon to spend thousands of dollars on brand name garbage they don't need (NOT!)

Gonzalez? Ginza!

"We don't ignore tourists, of course, but we're not a duty-free shop," he added.

"The loyal Japanese clients tend to run away from customers who were not very well raised and are wearing whatever or lying all over the sofa, touching everything," said Chanel's Collasse.

Ouch! French snobbery at its finest.

I have more money than I know what to do with, but I do not spend it on things I do not need.

Those tourist hillbillies with new minted money at Channel, Celine etc...

Yeah, nice try.

typo, Chanel

Yes but those figures are extremely skewed due to the massively unequal distribution of wealth in the world. The real 1% owns about 60 to 70% of the world's wealth

Yes that would be called net worth. Again if you make more than $32,400+ a year then you are in the top 1% of income earners. If you have a net worth of $770,000+ you are in the top 1% of net worth.

I take it you qualify for the top 1% of income earners in the world? I know I do.