Many Chinese people are visiting Japan not only to get a firsthand experience of the country but also to buy small yet high-end electronic and electrical goods, such as rice cookers, and even toilet seats. Some reports say many Japanese duty free shops are running out of products that even cost as much as 10,000 yuan ($1,601).

The new purchase trend among Chinese, many observers believe, is a natural outcome of the falling yen, expansion of duty free shops and Japan's sagging economy. Some overseas media outlets have even exaggerated the cause, calling it "backdoor diplomacy" that could ease tensions between China and Japan.

One of the most notable effects of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policy, known as "Abenomics", is the devaluation of the yen. Blame the loose monetary policy for it, if you want to. Add to that Japan's favorable duty free policy for foreign tourists and promotion of the country's tourist attractions and you have a successful recipe for increasing retail sales. Little wonder then that an increasing number of Chinese are choosing to visit Japan.

For most of Chinese tourists, Abenomics does not - and need not - make much sense, for they are interested only in buying decent Japanese products at relatively low prices. And why not? They believe their qualities and functions far outweigh their prices. Surprisingly, though, Chinese tourists to Japan are said to be making a beeline for even rice cookers that cost about 10,000 yuan.

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