South African Male Model in Japan Explains R400 Grocery Haul and Shares Challenges

• A South African man shared the type of food he bought as basics after he moved to Japan for his job
• The gent pursuing a career in modelling jetted off to Japan and shared the cultural shocks he experienced when it came to food
• South Africans were fascinated as the young man abroad got candid about the difference between Japan and Mzansi

One young South African in Japan to make a name for himself, shared his experience with new food. The man posted the challenges he's encountered with adjusting to Japan.

The gent's TikTok video explaining everything he bought to eat caught South Africans' attention. Online users shared thoughts on the man's food experience in Japan.

In a TikTok video, @notkenfrombarbie_ shared his Japanese grocery haul. He explained that shopping has been overwhelming as he has to translate all the labels. The young man explained that he once wanted to buy sugar but bought sweet fish seasoning instead, even after asking the shop attendant, who mistakenly confirmed it was sugar for tea. In the clip shared on 7 July 2025, the model bought basics such as milk, eggs, spaghetti (instead of rice at R150 per kg), sugar, mushrooms, bread (which comes in six slices for R30) and other necessities. He explained that fresh produce is expensive in Japan, and he bought one onion, saying he was used to buying food and vegetables for cheap.

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Japan is well-known for having ready-made food, but the model insisted he prefers cooking from scratch. He said that despite all the convenience food culture, he doesn't feel good when he eats it. The model insisted that cooking with fresh ingredients feels best for him. He said the groceries cost him R400.

SA talks Japan expenses

People compared his experience in Japan to South Africa. Some shared how they would cope if they were in his situation. Watch the video of the grocery haul below:

Mkhatshwa said:

'Those eggs, they make themselves."

Exøtic ghøst commented:

"I’d come back the next week 😭"

Asanda Xoliswa Nxumalo ❤️ admitted:

"Six slices would send me, that’s two meals omg."

doyi_onesisa2k shared:

"😭Things have changed, we get four tomatoes for R10."

flaco claimed:

"I buy monthly groceries here in SA for R500 in Midrand."

user903978925089 joked:

"Guys, I think he really likes cooking his food 😭"

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GENERAL MAKORA wrote:

"I would’ve been eating nothing but straight ramen, boy."

Casley 🤍🍂 asked:

"How much was everything in rands?"

Kenzo, the creator, replied:

"Everything was like 3300 Japanese yen, so around R400, I’ll do one where I show the prices."

Other Briefly News stories about groceries overseas

• A man in China showed people what they would be able to buy if they went to a Chinese grocery store with R200 just for fresh produce.
• One Afrikaner in America gave people a close look at her shopping experience in the United States.
• Online news users were floored after a South African showed people how much groceries cost in Malawi.
• An Afrikaner farmer family who moved to the USA explored a grocery store in a video.

Source: Briefly News