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That distinctive melody that sticks in your head once you hear it is the theme song of “Super Mammy” (known locally as “Mammy”), a fixture in Tadanoumi for 45 years. True to the lyrics, “If you can’t decide what to make for dinner tonight, let’s head to Super Mammy,” it’s a supermarket that locals have loved for years. The name “Mammy” carries the meaning of “a place where moms gather.”
Located in the shopping street in front of Tadanoumi Station, Mammy has just one small register. It’s small enough that you can see the whole store from the entrance, but it’s packed with everything you need for daily life—fresh foods, household goods, and more—and shoppers keep coming in one after another. Many people say it’s because “Mammy’s ingredients are really fresh.” In fact, the shelves are lined with exceptionally fresh items: fish landed at the local fishing port, meat delivered from partner farms, and produce bought first thing in the morning from nearby growers.
This time, we were given special access to observe everything from purchasing to opening preparations. We visited the Takehara Distribution Center, where fresh vegetables and fruit from nearby farmers arrive every morning. The highlight of the day was freshly picked strawberries. Around 7:00 a.m., people began gathering one after another, and the auction started. Mammy secured a great selection, including seasonal vegetables like shungiku (garland chrysanthemum) and white leeks, as well as the much-talked-about strawberries. The key points in purchasing are freshness and price. Mammy’s buyer told us they choose products with a sharp eye by thinking like their regular customers: “Good products at prices that are easy to afford!”
Back at the store, the produce is quickly arranged on the shelves. The produce section is set up so shoppers can imagine meal ideas—carrots near potatoes, shungiku near daikon—making it easy to plan dishes like curry or hot pot. Meanwhile, in the back of the store, freshly fried horse mackerel, croquettes, and other prepared foods are laid out, sashimi is packed, and meat is prepped one after another. When the familiar theme song starts playing, it’s finally time to open.
Mammy has dedicated sections for both fish and meat, and you can place orders to match your dish and budget—for example, “a sashimi platter for a celebration” or “sliced pork for ginger pork.” The fish is especially well regarded, and visitors almost always stop to take a look at the fresh fish counter.
Apparently, conversations like “What fish do you recommend today?” are an everyday thing. We even saw people visiting from outside the prefecture. One told us, eyes shining as he looked at a huge octopus, “I can’t get seafood this fresh where I’m from!” Many overseas visitors also stop by to buy rabbit food before heading to the tourist spot Okunoshima (Rabbit Island). Though it’s a small supermarket, people come from all over.
Alongside items like tofu and atsuage made by local shops, there are also collaboration products such as “Mammy Soy Sauce” made with a local soy sauce maker—another reminder of the strong connections between neighborhood businesses.
“Hearing people say it was delicious keeps me going,” said founder Kimio Kozumi. Long ago, to deliver necessities right to people’s doorsteps, they used a mobile sales truck called the “Mammy Department Store” to bring goods to different areas. Today, his son Shusaku Kozumi serves as store manager. Born and raised in Tadanoumi, Shusaku carries on the previous generation’s wish “to become an essential presence in this town.” For nearly 10 years, he has been sharing stories about Mammy and Tadanoumi on a blog, helping energize the community.
“All the staff are so kind.” “Coming here every day is part of my routine. I enjoy coming here and chatting.” The words of regular customers show that Mammy’s appeal goes beyond being just a supermarket. It’s a place where residents and tourists gather, stay loosely connected to the town, and feel at ease. That’s Mammy.
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