According to the English-language Japan news site RocketNews 24, a few weeks ago two families got into a fight at a large retail outlet in Kobe over disposable diapers. Both families had come to the store when it opened in order to buy as many diapers as they could, only to discover that the store had already sold out. Apparently these two families knew each other from previous diaper-buying binges and harbored mutual resentments that turned physical. A store employee called the police, who broke up the fight. Neither party filed a complaint or disclosed what the argument was about.
RocketNews speculates that the two families resell the diapers in China, since both have members who are Chinese nationals. Japanese diapers are particularly popular in China, and, in fact, this particular brand — Merries, made by Kao — is sold in China. Nevertheless, there's obviously enough demand to support a lucrative resale market.
It's not as if the Chinese don't make and sell their own disposable diapers, but when it comes to their children, consumers will pay a premium for Japanese products because they don't trust domestic makers. This sensibility has been growing since 2008, when locally made baby formula caused the deaths of six children and sent thousands to the hospital after somebody adulterated it with melamine to make it seem as if the protein content was higher.
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