KASUKABE, Saitama Pref.: Japanese supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co. on Sunday closed its store in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, that is known as the model for the “Sato-Kokonokado” store that appears in the popular anime series “Crayon Shin-chan.”
Many customers and fans gathered and showered applause and words of gratitude when the store was closed.
“Sato-Kokonokado is still operating in the anime,” the studio that makes Crayon Shin-chan said in a statement.
The closure was part of efforts by Ito-Yokado’s parent, Seven & i Holdings Co., to restructure its struggling supermarket operations.
The Kasukabe store opened in 1972 and moved to the current location in 1996.
“I came to the store to say goodbye,” said a 53-year-old woman from Noda, Chiba Prefecture, who is a native of Kasukabe and said she has shopped at the store even before its relocation.
“The store appears in the anime. I didn’t want (the operator) to shut it down,” said a 26-year-old man from Akishima, western Tokyo.
Seven & i last month announced a restructuring plan that focuses the company on its convenience store operations in an effort to counter an acquisition offer from Canadian convenience store chain Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
The Japanese company is also considering a management buyout.
JIJI Press