*Disclaimer* I did not receive compensation in any way for my opinions held within.
NHK World News has become a near and dear source of enjoyment in my life over the past few years, and while I can get sucked into almost anything on there, one show has started standing out. In it, a documentary crew goes to a random place like a 24-hour laundry, or a cafe, right now while I am writing this they are talking about a shrine that takes care of stray cats. For 72 hours they document these things, the people that come and go, their differences, the story that brings them in front of the camera for a brief and fleeting moment.
Nothing really happens in this show but you are left with a sense of connection that wasn’t there before, that even worlds apart there is the human element that connects us, the normality of work, of necessity, and of enjoyment that no matter who you are there is a craving for. inKonbini: One Store, Many Stories from Nagai Industries, every time I see it, fills me with this same sense of connection to the world, a feeling that feels all too fleeting.
コンビニ – Konbini
Konbini, one of the few times I get to show off my barely, not even, conversational Japanese, means a Convenience Store, which is as common as vending machines in Japan. Having only traveled to Tokyo they could be found on almost every street corner. Where I was staying Lawsons became my go-to for late-night snacks like tuna-filled onigiri, mochi, or Yakitori to name a few. Moving out of the city, into the countryside and small villages that dot the prefectures, I have been told, these stores can feel like the lifeblood of these towns. They can serve as locations where you often bump into neighbors, and buy the essentials, maybe an extra little snack because you deserve it.
It’s not just a place and time inKonbini captures, but an emotion that we all can relate to. However, a place and time are being captured here as well. The plot centers around College Student Makoto Hayakawa, who just so happens to find herself behind the counter of one of those small-town convenience stores as a part-time employee, a common entry-level job for young adults in Japan, during the 1990s. I mean, the main character of Persona 5 often had to take a break from fighting monsters to man the registers, the point being it’s a vital job!
At its heart and soul, the title is about the peaceful nature of a slow-paced life. Yes, you have responsibilities, but this isn’t the big city where are in and out constantly. Your primary job is to man the store. As somebody who had a similar job, you come to learn that there is boredom and solitude, but also a chance for self-reflection. As you do so you can stock the shelves with products from soda to bento boxes, plan and schedule upcoming deliveries, and learn the intricacies of Konbini layout to help maximize sales when you do have an influx of customers. In this routine, you are given the chance for growth, meaningful in its own right.
一期一会 – Ichi-go ichi-e
inKonbini: One Store, Many Stories takes its tagline to heart, embracing the Japanese philosophy of Ichi-go ichi-e, or one-time one meeting. It can also translate to once in a lifetime and serves as a reminder to treat every experience with reverence as each one offers a unique moment in our lives. In this regard, inKonbini encourages you to get to know the regulars and cherish each encounter you have with them. If you take the time to understand their lives and their problems you might have a profound impact on them through the branching dialog options and help them through their issues for the better.
While not interacting with the customers in-store there are other options to gain a wealth of understanding of everything around you. The Konbini itself holds memories that can be discovered, and the landline (which feels like this might turn into another GameCube from Unpacking situation) can be used to converse with your Aunt for advice in life, or the customers you have grown close to.
The game revolves around a slice of a moment, your time with a store, and the time it encompasses. From past experience I can say that you will always leave these chapters of your life behind but somewhere, at some time, something triggers you back to that place and even the happiest memory can have a twinge of regret wrapped around it and mixed with longing. That’s the best way I can describe what inKonbini evokes in me. It’s a chance to experience something I hope to one day lovingly regret that it ended, but happily remember I was there.
One Store, Many Stories
In summation, I hope this helped us secure a copy of inkonbini: One Store, Many Stories for review when the game is slated to release later this year. Just joking of course… Unless, maybe, you’re into that? No, but seriously, inKonbini is the kind of game that I need right now. An escapism into peace and tranquility, in a place I wish I could hope on a plane and be right now.
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