The Japanese show their support for Kumamoto with "explosive buying"! The Ginza Kumamoto Store is packed with customers snapping up local souvenirs.

▲ The Ginza Kumamoto Store was crowded with visitors last weekend. (Photo / fromthe official Ginza Kumamoto Store Facebook page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Kumamoto earthquake in Kyushu, Japan, severely damaged both Kumamoto and Oita prefectures, not only collapsing many historic sites and buildings but also temporarily suspending land, sea, and air transportation. In addition to expressions of concern and donations from various countries, people in other parts of Japan have also taken action to support Kumamoto. Last weekend, the "Ginza Kumamoto Store" in Tokyo saw long lines of people queuing up—all there to buy Kumamoto-made products. "Even if it's just a little money, we hope that by purchasing goods from Kumamoto, the revenue can be used to rebuild the area."

▲ The Ginza Kumamoto Store was packed with people who wanted to support Kumamoto through their purchases. (Photo / fromthe official Ginza Kumamoto Store Facebook page)

The Ginza Kumamoto Store in Tokyo mainly sells specialty products from Kumamoto Prefecture. The small space was packed with shoppers, with lines stretching from inside the store all the way outside. There were nearly 100 people queuing just outside the store. Due to the overwhelming number of visitors, the store even implemented crowd control measures to limit the number of people entering at one time. Staff remarked, "We’ve never had lines this long in our memory!"

Many Japanese people said that after hearing about the Kumamoto earthquake on the news, they kept thinking about how they could help. "I’ve traveled to Kumamoto before, and since the earthquake, I’ve been wondering how I could contribute. The first thing that came to mind was to come here and shop. Even if I can’t donate much, I hope it can help the local community in some way," said one female customer in an interview with Japanese media.

The Ginza "Kumamoto Store" has long lines forming. It’s not because of any special event—it’s because everyone is here to buy local Kumamoto products. It’s one visible form of support for recovery efforts in Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/p39EgwewF9

— Grumiaux_Vn (@Grumiaux_Vn) April 16, 2016

▲ Netizens shared photos of the long lines outside the Ginza Kumamoto Store.

Many Japanese social media users also used the phrase"Support Kumamoto through shopping"to rally on Twitter. Through retweets and shares, more people were encouraged to visit and buy Kumamoto specialties.

▲ Shoppers browsing products inside the Ginza Kumamoto Store. (Photo / from the official Ginza Kumamoto Store Facebook page)

The head of the Kumamoto Prefecture Tokyo Office, which operates the store, expressed deep gratitude for everyone’s supportive actions. However, he also noted that due to the earthquake, local producers are unable to deliver goods, so if items sell out, they cannot be restocked. Figuring out how to keep the store running in the future has become a major challenge.

Ginza Kumamoto Store
Official Facebook Page:(Click here to visit)
Address: 3-16, 5-chome, Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo
Access: 2-minute walk from Exit B9 or C2 of Ginza Subway Station
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, closed every Monday
※ Due to the earthquake, the Ginza Kumamoto Store may have temporary closures.