Daily life of a “long-established candy store” working hard in the age of the Umaibo price hike

Confectionery stores are disappearing from the streets.

In today’s Japanese society, with the increase in the number of convenience stores and the declining birthrate and aging population, candy stores are probably no longer an “endangered species. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the number of establishments of confectionery retailers such as candy stores has dropped to 30% in the last 20 years. As if to add to this decline, the price of the popular candy bar “Umaibo” will be raised from 10 yen to 12 yen this spring. It may only be 2 yen, but the candy store is dealing with children clutching their coins. It seems that they will have to deal with the price hike.

Kamikawaguchi-ya, Zoshigaya, Toshima-ku

Zoshigaya Kishimojin Temple is about a 15-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station. In the precincts of the temple, Kamikawaguchi-ya, which has been in business for 241 years since the Edo period, has been quietly setting up store. It was 10 a.m. on Setsubun Day. At 10:00 a.m. on Setsubun day, the sliding door in front of the store opened and Ms. Masayo Uchiyama (81), wearing a knit cap, began preparing to open the store. Cases of candy were placed on the porch, and in about 20 minutes, the old one-story house was “transformed” into a candy store.

Primitive, isn’t it?　We’re the only store in Japan with a wooden sliding door nowadays.

Mr. Uchiyama is the 13th owner of this store, which was established in 1781. He has been working with his grandmother and aunt for 70 years, since he was 10 years old, and is now running the store by himself.

I heard that the price is going to go up.

A middle-aged man, a regular customer, grabbed two Umaibo and called out to him.

I heard about it. I heard about it, but it’s still cheap.

Mr. Uchiyama said after the man left.

After the man left, Mr. Uchiyama said, “If we start selling them at 12 yen in April, they’ll cost 13 yen including the consumption tax. If we don’t charge that, we won’t be able to make a living. We’re going to stock less than before and see how it goes.

Although Kamikawaguchi-ya is often featured in the media, its business condition is severe. To begin with, the profit margin on the sale of candy is 20%, so just maintaining the business is a challenge.

On a bad day, sales are 800 yen a day. Twenty percent of that is 160 yen, right?　I can’t even eat cup noodles. That’s why I have to make do with three bags of 108 yen bean sprouts.

According to Mr. Uchiyama, who smiles wryly, his monthly income is about 25,000 yen. Mr. Uchiyama says that he earns about 25,000 yen a month. He saves money by adding his pension to this amount, but he still continues to work because of the contact he has with people.

She says, “People come to see me at my coming-of-age ceremony wearing furisode sleeves and say, ‘Grandma. When I have a child, they ask me to hold him or her in my arms. That makes me happy!