'Japan Beri Goods', dokumentaryo ni Atom Araullo, ngayong Linggo sa 'I-Witness'

Filipinos cannot seem to get enough of these used, pre loved, or second hand items.

But whatever you may want to call them, they are very popular amongst the consumers because of the low prices.

For Miss Sally, who is 7 years in the business now, selling surplus from Japan is very profitable as long as you have the patience… and the guts to sell whatever the suppliers from the provinces in Japan delivers to you. It is a hit or miss, according to her.

Going into this business takes a lot of their time and effort. But as the items are taken out of the shelves and paid for, for Miss Sally, it is worth every sweat.

And for the loyal customers, whatever the history or where they came from does not matter as long as these items give them happiness. Somehow, the term Japan surplus is becoming a misnomer because one can end up with a fine china from England or an authentic designer bag or jewelries.

So where do these surplus items come from?

Atom Araullo goes to Japan to personally look into the culture of cleanliness by the Japanese people.

He meets various sellers peddling their used and old items to some thrift stores lining up Tokyo.

It may seem that the Japanese and Filipino psyche are placed at the opposite end of the spectrum--- one throwing (new or damaged) things away while the other is re using them.

Watch I-Witness as Atom discusses the complexities of the Filipino psyche in recycling imported items… This Sunday after Boobay and Tekla.

TAGALOG:

Parang kabuteng nagsusulputan ang mga Japan surplus shops sa iba’t-ibang panig ng bansa. Hindi magkanda-ugaga ang mga Pinoy sa pagbili ng mga lumang gamit mula sa bansang Hapon. Isang dahilan ay ang murang presyo.

Para kay Miss Sally, na pitong taon nang nasa ganitong negosyo, kailangan ng mahabang pasensya sa pakikisalamuha sa mga kostumer. At sa bawat delivery ng container van, surpresa ang naghihintay sa kanila sa bawat mga kagamitan na nakukuha nila.

Pero sulit naman ang pagod lalo na kapag nakikita nilang nauubos ang mga paninda.

Pero tila ang salitang Japan surplus ay hindi na akmang pangalan dahil kadalasan, ang mga matitiyagang kostumer ay nakaka-jackpot sa bagong-bagong mga kasangkapan na galing pa ng England o kaya ay mga orihinal na branded bags at alahas.

Kaya si Atom Araullo, pumunta ng Japan upang alamin saan nga ba nanggagaling ang mga surplus na ito.

Panoorin ngayong Linggo ang I-Witness pagkatapos ng Boobay at Tekla.