Japan is known for its retail hyperspecialization, a big mark upon its reputation as an super-efficient economic powerhouse. For example, maid cafes, or the Japanese equivalent of Hooter’s (but with coffee) have sprung several derivatives including butler cafes, sargeant cafes, and the dubious sexy mommy cafes. There’s even stores that sell glasses that maids wear in the cafes.
So I guess it was inevitable that hyperspecialization just goes kabloom at a certain point. And that point is trying to have a store dedicated to brooms. Apparently this shop (pictured) hasn’t had a customer since Saturday, September 2, 1972, and that customer, it turned out, was looking for a hand brush that they didn’t carry.
This almost sounds too absurd even for Japan–and some commentators are pointing out it’s a joke. Perhaps our resident Japan guru, Matt Firestone, can debunk or confirm this myth. In the meantime, if you come across this place, please please buy something.
[Via Boing Boing]