MUJI Brand name that means ‘No Brand Goods’

This is the English version. To see the Japanese version, please click the button below.

First ( Mujirushi Ryohin MUJI )

The birth of ‘無印良品’

On October 1977, SEIYU Corporation, one of the biggest nationwide supermarkets began providing Private Brand products and decided to start a department store that comprehensively provides their Private Brand products to the public.

The products were named ‘無印良品’ so that it will be well known for ‘no brand goods’ in English. It’s easy to understand that ‘無印良品’ is one of the Private Brand Products.

On December 1980, SEIYU started to sell ‘無印良品’ with only 40 kinds of items. The ‘無印良品’ products are also sold at the department stores. On June 1989, the 良品計画 Corporation that specially provides 無印良品 products only was founded. Eventually, this name became a well known brand in Japan.

Sales expansion of 無印良品

無印良品 had kept their brand name and strong existence even after the collapse of the bubble economy in Japan. Then the company continued to grow steadily.

In the late 1990’s, 良品計画 corporation also started to sell their products, 無印良品 to JUSCO, one of the biggest department stores in Japan. It expanded the sales channel widely. Their company has grown and brought consolidated operating income amounting to 16 billion yen from March to August 2015.

Now, 2017, the number of domestic direct shop of 無印良品 has increased to 328 stores. The number of kinds of products sold also went up from 40 to 7000.

Overseas expansion of 無印良品

On July 1991, 無印良品 opened their first overseas store which is in London. The company took a sales strategy that spread ‘MUJI’ brand name, not 無印良品. The logo of the MUJI became appealing to the people in London.

Afterward, the MUJI brand continuously spreaded to European countries, North American countries and Asian countries. At present, the number of MUJI stores is 418.

From 2016, while expanding MUJI overseas, the company decided to use a common brand tag for their products all over the world to improve production efficiency. To do that, MUJI logo has been printed on tags even at 無印良品 in Japan.

MUJI in the Philippines

As of 2017, there’re 7 MUJI stores in the Philippines.

At first, MUJI products were only made available to specific private companies in the Philippines. But on February 2017, 良品計画 corporation founded the company named ‘MUJI PHILIPPINES CORP.’ With the help of STORES SPECIALISTS, INC., a well known Filipino company, MUJI Philippines was able to strengthen and expand their business to the public market.

Question First

You can hear a conversation between two people after you play the sound. Answer the questions about the conversation.

Question 1

Sound 1

Conversation 1

There is MUJI at BGC. I think they opened more than 10 years ago. MUJI also opened in Greenbelt. It’s convenient.

Yes. We don’t have to buy and bring MUJI products in Japan anymore. MUJI stores in the Philippines are also clean. So, we can enjoy shopping as same as we do in Japan.

About that pair of slippers, we can’t buy it at other stores in Manila. Although there’re many stores selling beach sandals, they don’t sell that kind of room slippers. It’s difficult to look for such.

I think it’s because of the Filipinos lifestyle and culture. They don’t really have the habit of taking their shoes off before entering their houses. By the way, I also noticed that they don’t sell futon, and futon cover, pillows and sheets.

Maybe we can back-order them. I used to do it in Japan.

It might be so. But we might have to wait for around three months after placing our orders if the products have to be shipped from Japan.
But here, believe it or not, domestic shipments will take two months. Because it’s the Philippines.

Question 1

What product did Tetsuya say is not available in this store?
A. linen
B. Slipper
C. Beach sandal
D. Clerk’s smile

Answer and Explanation 1

Answer：A
He said that ‘there’re no futon, pillow, futon cover and sheets also’. These products are same as linen.
B: That was what Mariko said.
C: It’s mentioned that ‘there’re many stores selling beach sandal’.
D: Actually such is possible, but it’s not mentioned anywhere in the conversation.

Question 2

Sound 2

Conversation 2

I want some cases where I can put my CDs, DVDs and magazines into. I prefer transparent cases so that I can see what are inside the cases.

How about this case? Width is 26 cm, length is 37 cm and height is 32.5 cm. There is a partition inside the case. There is no swinging movement even for small items thanks to the partitions inside. It’s really convenient.

Yes. It’s good. I can see things inside the case even from the outside. But the good thing is, it’s not too transparent. The size of the case is appropriate. I don’t need to think about the space where to put these cases because I can stack them all together. It’s a space saver.

Yes. In addition, it says that we can stack this case from any direction.

Wow. I’m wondering about how much each case costs. It costs 2,950 yen.

No. It’s 2950 pesos, not yen. I can also see how much it is sold in Japan since the Japanese price tag is also on the case. Well, it costs 3,000 yen. The price is 2.3 times higher compared to the Japanese one.

Question 2

What does MARIKO like in this case?
A. The case has a red color which MARIKO likes.
B. The size of the case is appropriate for MARIKO.
C. The price of the case is cheaper than the price in Japan.
D. It’ll be discounted if she buys two or more.

Answer and Explanation 2

Answer：B
It’s mentioned that ‘The size of the case is appropriate’.
A: It’s not mentioned. In addition, it’s mentioned that ‘I prefer transparent cases’.
C: It’s mentioned that ‘The price is 2.3 times higher compared to the Japanese one’. It’s not cheaper, but more expensive.
D: It’s not mentioned.

Question 3

Sound 3

Conversation 3

This cellophane tape comes with two pieces. Umm. There’re two price tags.

Well. One is 175 pesos and another one is 49 pesos. Which is correct?

Do you think 175 pesos is too expensive even if it comes with two pieces? It might be sold for 88 pesos at Nihon-jo, isn’t it?

Yes. But MUJI is a brand name. The price, 49 pesos isn’t appropriate since it’s made in Japan, not in China. It’s impossible that the price is cheaper than that in China.

I see. So, the price tag 49 pesos must be mistakenly put in the product. It’s common in the Philippines.

Yes. Although there’re two price tags and one of them is 49 pesos which might be wrong, it’s better than no price tags at all.

Question 3

What’s the main concern about the cellophane tape?
A. Concerning whether there is adhesion power.
B. Concerning how length the cellophane tape is.
C. Concerning the price .
D. Concerning where the cellophane tape is made in.

Answer and Explanation 3

Answer：C
It’s mentioned that ‘One is 175 pesos and another one is 49 pesos. Which is correct?’. Then they’re talking about it.
A, B and D: They’re not mentioned.

Question 4

Sound 4

Conversation 4

Why is the blouson sold in Manila even though it’s always hot in Manila?

I think it’s for people who are thinking of going to Baguio. It’s cold in Baguio now since it’s rainy season, isn’t it? There might not be any MUJI stores in Baguio.

I see. How much is it?

It costs 3,450 pesos. The original price is 99 US dollar. The price tag shows US dollar, not yen.

It also shows ‘MUJI U.S.A LIMITED’ and ‘made in Myanmar’. This product basically seems to be sold in the USA after being made in Myanmar.

MUJI has expanded to the USA. However, I’m wondering about why MUJI sells this product even in the Philippines since the tag says ‘LIMITED’. Anyway, it’s OK because we can buy same products at a cheaper price compared to ones in the USA.

Question 4

What’s mentioned about why MUJI sells BLOUSON in the Philippines?
A.For the people planning to go to Japan in winter season.
B. For the people planning to go to Baguio in rainy season.
C. For Americans living in the Philippines.
D. For the people from Myanmar living in the Philippines.

Answer and Explanation 4

Answer：B
It’s mentioned that ‘I think it’s for people thinking of going to Baguio’.
A: It could be the reason, but such was not mentioned.
C and D: Are not mentioned.

Let’s talk more!

What do you think about MUJI products?
Let’s talk about it with your friend.
How is the MUJI in other countries?
Ask your teacher or a foreigner about it.

Example

1. Do you often go to MUJI?
2. What do you think about MUJIRer who collect products and items of MUJI?
3. The average salary in the Philippines is lower than that in Japan by far. The price in the Philippines is double than the ones in Japan; Nevertheless do you think MUJI can run their business well in the Philippines?
4. There’re also many lower price grocery- chain- stores such as DAISO and Nihon-Jo. Which grocery chain store could be successful in the Philippines?