Gacha, blind boxes, and Ichiban Kuji lotteries are all the rage right now. While you might not always snag that one item you're after, the thrill of trying your luck and hoping to be the lucky winner is just too good to pass up!
Recently, a Japanese netizen took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their bewildering experience. They headed to a convenience store, eager to try their hand at the Jujutsu Kaisen Ichiban Kuji "Jujutsu Kaisen Shibuya Incident ~Part Two~." Despite seeing the prize they wanted still available, a staff member refused their request, claiming it was "already reserved by another customer." This bizarre encounter quickly ignited a massive debate and a flood of questions online.
The netizen, Yuuki (@yu_ki_forever), recounted her visit to a FamilyMart to try the latest Jujutsu Kaisen Ichiban Kuji. She spotted the "I Prize" she was eyeing and decided to give it a shot. But the clerk dropped a bombshell: "This has already been reserved by another customer." Yuuki was left utterly flabbergasted.
She expressed her disbelief: "??? Reserved??? You can reserve Ichiban Kuji??? And it wasn't even a full set purchase; it was just the I prize and some lower-tier ones left!" No matter what she said, the clerk wouldn't let her draw. Furious, she immediately decided to file a complaint with the company's headquarters.
After her post went viral, countless netizens chimed in, with most expressing confusion and frustration over the store's handling of the situation.
One commenter pointed out, "If it's reserved, why not just take it off display? Anyone seeing it there would assume they could draw," arguing that such a display method is misleading.
Others were more direct, stating that Ichiban Kuji has always been "first-come, first-served," and they'd never heard of reservations being a thing. They questioned the clerk's explanation, saying, "If there really is such a rule, it should be explained beforehand, not used to stop customers on the spot."
What's more, several netizens shared similar experiences. Some recounted instances where stores seemed to "pre-reserve" prizes. One person even tried to buy all remaining tickets to secure the "Last One Prize," only to be told it was already taken by someone else, leaving them utterly baffled about the meaning of a "Last One Prize."
Another netizen recalled calling the company headquarters right in front of a clerk to report the issue, emphasizing that the store's claims didn't align with the official rules.
As the discussion heated up, suspicions arose that some stores might be engaging in "internal reservations." This could mean holding back popular prizes for staff members or their friends, or deliberately reserving the "Last One Prize" for specific individuals.
While these claims haven't been officially confirmed, they've certainly sparked significant concerns among consumers regarding fairness.
Other netizens highlighted that the official Ichiban Kuji guidelines explicitly state that they do not offer reservation or holding services. Therefore, if a store refuses a customer's draw based on a "reservation," it might be violating these rules. Consequently, some suggested that in addition to complaining to the convenience store's headquarters, people should also report such incidents to Ichiban Kuji's official channels to clarify the situation.
▼ The Ichiban Kuji official website indeed specifies "No Reservations Accepted"
This incident has once again brought the sales mechanisms and store management practices of Ichiban Kuji under scrutiny in Japan. After all, when you walk into a convenience store and encounter a "you can see it, but you can't draw it" situation, it's easy to suspect internal manipulation. No wonder it blew up online!
via： togetter