The Best Things In Life Are Free (or, cost 100 yen)

The 100-yen shop in Japan is one of the most glorious stores I have visited in any country. It puts the American Dollar store to shame. (100 yen is *roughly* 1 US dollar).
Like its American counterpart, you can find many types of goods there. But unlike the shops in America, the quality of the 100 yen goods is pretty remarkable. Most of my kitchen supplies come from there.
More than one American who has lived in Japan for a while and who has returned home during my stay here has commented to me that one of the top things they will miss is this wonderful store.
A sampling of things I have picked up from the 100-yen store:
oven mitts, sunglasses, a bathroom mirror, kitchen knives, chopsticks, notebooks, glasses, container jars, rice bowls, custard bowls, sushi plates, screwdrivers, ceramic tea cups, flower pots, an incense stick base, picture frames, an umbrella (which sucked, the only really poor quality item on this list), slippers, and a frying pan.

I had hoped to post some pictures of these goods to accompany this post, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Just take my word for it - the 100-yen shop rocks.