Unusual pizza coupons

In America, does Domino’s Pizza have funny or unusual coupons?

Or is it another “only-in-Japan” thing?

Because,　once again, Domino’s Japan is offering 25% off specials to customers that fit some crazy stipulations.

Some of the funny new Domino’s Japan coupons.

For example, customers in Japan can get 25% off their pizza order if the pizza delivery person sees that they:

– have facial hair (a beard and/or a mustache),
– have “piggy tails“,
– have a last name with four Japanese kanji characters (very few Japanese people have such a long name),
– have a twin sibling,
– are wearing  glamorous clothes,
– are in the eleventh grade (high school ID required),
– have a pet parakeet,
– are wearing a “dorky” T-shirt,
– speak with an accent from another area of Japan (than the one they’re currently in), or
– show a receipt that proves they’ve already ordered a Domino’s pizza earlier that same day.

Coupons can’t be combined in one order…but if someone meets all of the above stipulations, they can get 50% off of their order (the odds of such a person existing are probably extremely slim though).

Dominos Japan paying $31,000 per hour

Dominos Pizza is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and their 25th anniversary in Japan.

So to celebrate their 25th anniversary, Dominos Japan is running a unique gimmick.
Next week (2010 November 10th), they will begin accepting applications for a temporary position that pays 250万円 (¥2,500,000 (about US$31,000)) for an hour’s work one day in December (2010).

Domino's Pizza Japan is offering a position that pays ¥2,500,000 (US$31,000) per hour.

The position will be offered to only one person.
The only requirements to be eligible are that applicants be legally allowed to work in Japan and must be at least eighteen years old.

Dominos Japan will begin accepting applications beginning on 2010 November 10 and this position is for one hour only one day in December.
The salary for that one hour will be 250万円 (¥2,500,000 (about US$31,000).

+++
On a different note, today is a holiday in Japan. It’s 「文化の日」 (“Culture Day”) today.
(Click here to read my F.A.Q. about Japan’s holidays.

出前

In your country, what types of food can you have delivered?

Is it good? Is it expensive?

As far as I remember, in America only pizza and maybe Chinese food is available for delivery.

Isn’t that right?

In Japan, you can have 寿司 (Sushi), カレー (Curried rice), ラメーン (Ramen), お弁当 (Japanese box lunches), 酒 (alcohol), ピザ (pizza), “Kentucky Fried Chicken“, and more delivered to your home.

All of it is quite good and most is quite affordable.

梅酒 (Plum wine) can be delivered to your home (as well as beer, sake, wine, etc)

寿司 (Sushi) is usually about ¥100 (US $0.90) a piece.

カツカレー (Pork cutlet & curry rice)

When you order 出前 (delivery) Sushi, Ramen, Curried rice and other foods like that, it usually comes served on ceramic dishes. When you finish the meal, you wash the dishes and put them outside your front door…and the delivery man comes back the next day to pick up the dishes.

Would such a system work in your country?

One thing that is expensive in Japan is ピザ (pizza), though.

I think the pizza menu is much better in Japan than in America…but many foreigners are surprised by pizza toppings that are popular in Japan, such as Japanese mayonnaise, corn, and potatoes.

Do such pizza toppings seem shocking to you? They’re actually quite good.

Japan has American pizza chains “Dominos” and “Pizza Hut“, as well as domestic chains like “Pizza-La” and “Wheely“.

Because the differences in toppings, pizza restaurants in Japan (even the American one) serve better side menus, desserts and drink choices than in America. (Most Japanese people could never eat just pizza for dinner. They want a salad and maybe some other side dish, as well.)

Another difference is the price. We almost never order a pizza…as I mentioned above, Japanese food is much more affordable in Japan than pizza.

For example, I checked prices on both the U.S. “Dominos“ and Japanese “Dominos“ websites.

In America, a large “Honolulu Hawaiian” pizza with a coupon costs US$13 (¥1198*)…but a comparable pizza at Dominos in Japan is called the 「トロピカル」 (“Tropical“) and costs ¥3100 (US $33.65*) for a large pie.

*(US dollar amounts are based on the ¥→US$ exchange rate on February 8, 2009. The US dollar is currently very weak.)

U.S. "Dominos" menu

At "Dominos Japan", you can get a "Quattro" pizza and a salad or potatoes for about US$25.

Kids' "Pikachu set" at "Dominos Japan"

"Mayo, Tuna, Corn Pizza" is actually quite good!

Baked potato is a side-dish at Dominos Japan.

Shrimp and potatoes is another side-menu here.

Dominos Japan's drink choices: Coke, orange juice, 御茶 (Green Tea), 紅茶 (Brown Tea)