Kasukabe, Saitama Pref. — The Ito-Yokado supermarket in Kasukabe, famously known as the model for the fictional “Sato-Kokonokado” store in the beloved anime series Crayon Shin-chan, officially closed its doors on Sunday. The closure marks the end of an era for both the local community and fans of the iconic show.
Shoppers and anime enthusiasts gathered at the store to bid farewell, offering applause and words of gratitude as the shutters came down for the last time. Despite its closure in real life, fans can take solace in the fact that, “Sato-Kokonokado is still operating in the anime,” according to a statement from the studio behind Crayon Shin-chan.
A Long-Standing Landmark
Originally opened in 1972 and relocated to its current site in 1996, the Kasukabe store has served generations of shoppers. For many, it was more than just a supermarket.
“I came to the store to say goodbye,” said a 53-year-old woman from Noda, Chiba Prefecture, who grew up in Kasukabe and shopped there for decades. Another visitor, a 26-year-old man from Akishima in western Tokyo, shared, “The store appears in the anime. I didn’t want (the operator) to shut it down.”
Parent Company Restructuring
The closure is part of a broader restructuring effort by Ito-Yokado’s parent company, Seven & I Holdings, which aims to focus on its convenience store operations. The company announced the plan last month as it seeks to streamline its business and counter an acquisition bid by Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard. Additionally, a management buyout is under consideration.
Seven & I Holdings has struggled to maintain profitability in its supermarket operations, prompting decisions like the closure of the Kasukabe location. While this strategic shift may strengthen its core convenience store business, the departure of such an iconic store leaves a void in the hearts of many loyal customers.
For fans of Crayon Shin-chan, the spirit of “Sato-Kokonokado” will live on in the anime, immortalizing the Kasukabe store as a cherished part of Japanese pop culture.