Photo: @manachawakannai
national

Don Quijote asks couples to refrain from breaking up in its Osaka store

47 Comments
By grape Japan

Don Quijote is Japan's largest discount store, with over 160 locations throughout the country. Often referred to as "Donki" for short, Don Quijote is known not only for its wide range of discounted goods (food, cosmetics, clothing, adult goods, furniture--just about anything you can think of, which makes them a great souvenir stop for foreign visitors), but also its distinct layout. The multi-floor emporiums have an almost theme park-like atmosphere to them, playing music constantly and attracting visitors with flashing lights.

So while few customers would be surprised by some of the goods found at a Don Quijote, Japanese Twitter user Chanmana (@manachawakannai) recently spotted a sign posted in a Don Quijote that had a very specific request to store-goers that has quite a lot on Twitter both confused and laughing.

Chanmana recently shared a photo of the sign to Twitter, writing "my local Don Quijote is amazing", and it definitely begs quite a few questions: "A request to all customers: Please refrain from eating and drinking, as well as having breakups between couples."

The first half is quite understandable and standard policy among many stores, but the second half, which forbids lovers' quarrels, seems to be particular to this one particular Don Quijote in Osaka. A brief breakup or fight between a couple probably wouldn't warrant the effort of putting up a sign (especially one this big), so it seems like this Don Quijote has either had repeat offenders having trouble in paradise, or one very dramatic breakup, as many replies on Twitter speculate:

"To it get to the point where the staff had to get involved, it must have been quite the mess..."

"I haven't laughed like this in a while. Just what the heck happened there?!"

"Thinking about it seriously, the aisles in the store are so narrow, so it would be really annoying."

So aside from holding off from having a snack until you leave the store, if you happen to find yourself in a Don Quijote in Osaka with someone you plan to break up with, maybe hold off until after you've finished shopping.

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© grape Japan

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47 Comments
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Please refrain from . . . having breakups between couples."

A reasonable request.

Beats another "cleanup on aisle 3" any day.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Some silly people pay for advertising, these guys are smarter than that.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

New store song …♪♪Don’t Don’t Don’t, break up, Don’t break up, in our store♪♪

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Too expensive as far as I know, people are misled thinking it's cheaper than other stores because of the cheap IMAGE it projects, but if you compare it to other discount stores Donki is actually more expensive in most cases.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

A lesson I learned from my Advertising class at university is whatever you advertise (or indirectly advertise), you will attract. Kind of reminds me of a certain advertisement in a store in Shinsaibashi, Osaka that advertised a "certain" kind of sale. @ Skeptical - You might see more cleanup at that aisle.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I hate the place. Too many "yankee" and other shady types (gaijin and non-gaijin) loitering about.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

Seems like a rather Quixotic reQuest.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Brilliant advertising for free.

Personally can't stand the place, its got loser written all over it, rubbish goods at rubbish prices

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Yes, they’re often very cheap on most articles, but not all ones, and many or almost all products have a very low quality, so they’re then not worth even the cheap price. Anyway, it’s fun to stroll around at DQ and consider it more an entertaining theme park, with uncommon things and people to watch, where you -in contrary to real ones- even can buy some of the interiors as a little souvenir. lol

0 ( +3 / -3 )

What if the couple is arguing and then making up..? Is that legit? I guess employees need to stand by for results before they act! LOL

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Sounds like the Costco breakup phenomenon here in Hawaii from a few years back. Our lovely local warehouse big box store was the site of many a tearful breakup by the snack bar. Ah the funny memories LOL!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

IKEA's exhibition floors give real life pictures for couples, possibly drawing a break-up talk :)

I don't know if the same psychological effect emerges inside Don Quijote.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I can see it; the place is open late and attracts a certain class of clientele.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Don Quixote is popular with bored couples for inexpensive late night "window shopping." It is equivalent to the popularity of Wal-Mart in the US.

On any given day and especially late night, you can see all sorts of strange people walking around the store. With layout similar to Costco with no signs posted, people have no choice but to wonder around to see what is there. Hoping to motivate impulse buying.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I'd quite like to know the details of what this poster was based on, what was behind it. After all, it looks like it was printed and not just sloppy..

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I'd quite like to know the details of what this poster was based on, what was behind it. After all, it looks like it was printed and not just sloppy..

Excellent observation. It is free advertising . The donki marketing team is behind it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

After over 30 years in Japan I keep saying nothing can surprise me!

Then something like this comes along and I am proven wrong!

My second thought was is this some kind of new trend/dad like going to Tokyo tower or Sky tree to propose, you go to Donki to break up!

A little research is needed on this.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Ghosting is best if you want to avoid drama and potential injury from angry females you are no longer interested in. Or, if ghosting is not your thing, just do the 'fade out', and eventually the girl will think it's her decision to dump you.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Ghosting is best if you want to avoid drama and potential injury from angry females you are no longer interested in. 

Not for those with the where there is a will there is a wedding mentality. They won't give up so easily and will come back to haunt you.

eventually the girl will think it's her decision to dump you.

Eventually could be easily five years. Best to be clear and not waste her time.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Strange store gets strange people.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Ego Sum Lux Mundi: Ghosting is best if you want to avoid drama and potential injury from angry females you are no longer interested in.

I can think of very few things more cowardly.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I have been to DQ about three times.... It always leaves me feeling unclean.... I think it's the customers...

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

While many in the West hail 'Don Quixote' as the first modern novel, (early 17th century) Japanese hail 'Tale of Genji' as their first great literary work and possibly novel, (11th century) . . . .

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Is hooking up permitted?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Ego Sum Lux Mundi

Ghosting is best if you want to avoid drama and potential injury from angry females you are no longer interested in. Or, if ghosting is not your thing, just do the 'fade out', and eventually the girl will think it's her decision to dump you.

Nah... coward's way out. Rather still have an amicable relationship with an ex than be so cruel as to ignore her, or vice versa. A civilised break up is the way to go.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Ghosting is best if you want to avoid drama and potential injury from angry females you are no longer interested in

Only if one is a Grade-A D-bag.....

It's disrespectful, cowardly, and having been on the receiving end, more than a little hurtful.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

"But Honey, you said you wanted to try 'new things'. Hey, where are you going?".....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Thunderbird2

Rather still have an amicable relationship with an ex than be so cruel as to ignore her, or vice versa. A civilised break up is the way to go.

Well said.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I love and adore DQ. Compared to Haawaii though the ailses are way too small here. And they need to get a great big plate lunch area.

As far as breaking up ina a DQ, if you make a run for it you can soon get lost, and ditch the person and that is why it is open so late into the wee hours because it is hard to find your way out.

Great private section, but that is not the place to get your jollies and dump your friend.

Aloha

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Where's the evidence of these breakups?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

A Japanese woman bought a knife and stabbed a Chinese woman in January of 2020. Not sure if it was a ‘break up’ or even the same Umeda, Osaka Donki store but think the staff & police now frown on such on-premise activities. Please buy your merchandise and kindly take your ‘personal’ affairs elsewhere.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Agree with MANY readers complaints Today about “translations”. Even the author here has trouble distinguishing between “refrain” and “forbidden”. Maybe its written that way for a more ‘dramatic’, sensationalist effect in a story that has no ‘real’ point?

“A request to all customers: Please refrain from eating & drinking, as well as having breakups between couples."… the second half, which forbids lovers' quarrels, seems to be particular to this one particular Don Quijote in Osaka.”

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Just when you think you’ve seen it all in Japan…lol !

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Breaking off a relationship, in-person, in an open, public setting is always ‘advisable’. Especially in Japan where incidents of intra-family, common-law, relational & interpersonal violence have definitely been trending in recent months.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Loveless relationship should be easy to end

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Congratulations!” to grapeJapan on ‘scooping’ and breaking this hard-hitting, “National” news story before FujiTV & Tokudane’s 9am “Top Story” today. The announcers are also urging patrons to “Please refrain from discussions of ‘Farewell’ ” inside or outside the stores. Apparently, it’s a Bigger problem in Japan that we presumed ?? -

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Or, if ghosting is not your thing, just do the 'fade out', and eventually the girl will think it's her decision to dump you.

This is the best option. Have you ever tried dumping a girl outright? Mama mia, it's a flaming dumpster fire.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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