The Special Relationship Gaijin Have With McDonald’s

Like most other expats living in Japan, I’ve got a special relationship with…McDonald’s. Back when I was getting used to life here, it was a place to go where things were familiar and you didn’t need to stress out about what to order or what social rules to worry about while eating it. Although it’s probably no one’s favorite dining destination, it’s at least well within the comfort zone. Plus, the company does do a few things right here, like offering salads as an option in place of french fries, and 100% orange juice rather than the orange-colored sugar water they sell to kids in the States. During the time I’ve been in Japan, McDonald’s has reflected the larger economy in interesting ways, for example leading the charge to cut prices during the period of deflation in the early 2000’s, and struggling to manage the BSE scare with images of parents enjoying quality time with their kids over a hamburger. For the past year or so, the company has been winning big with its “Mega Mac” offering, essentially a Big Mag with four patties, which would have been unthinkable just a few years ago before the shift in eating habits. During limited product trials, the Mega Mac sold millions of units, and is will soon be added as a permanent menu item. While this is good for the company, who saw profits soar, I’m certainly concerned about the future health of consumers here. On the other hand, writing about this subject has made me so hungry I could really go for a Mega McTeriyaki Burger, which the company is also introducing.