I once spent an hour and a half in a restaurant supply store in Bangkok looking at the interesting sinks, tables, grills and ovens although I had no intention of making a purchase. As a long term visitor to Japan I don't necessarily need to buy 25 meters of flexible corrugated pvc drain pipes either, but I still wander the aisles of Make Man's garden and lumber center imagining how I could use these items if my stay ever officially become permanent. Make Man is a Japanese big box style home improvement center. Inside the air conditioned interior of its main store shoppers can find anything from pet supplies to auto supplies to sports equipment, appliances, tatami, bedding, housewares and lighting accessories. I spend a great deal of time wandering outside of the main part of the store to loiter in the the aisle of plant seeds and by the sheds and cement mixes. I miss owning a home in the United States to be able to create my own never ending string of projects and oft wonder what I'd do first with my home here if I do select Okinawa as my eventual retirement location. Make Man in Uruma City is located at the eastern-most intersection of Gushikawa Loop Route 224 and Route 85. The store is open daily from 09:30 ~ 20:00.
Michael Flemming @michael.flemming
I'm a wanderer in Okinawa turning over every stone I can find. I write, photograph and blog about my favorite finds here in Japan's southernmost prefecture.