One of the first Japanese phrases I learned when I came to Japan was ¡±benri,¡± which means ¡°convenient¡± (and, therefore, good). It¡¯s no wonder then, that Japan boasts more than 50,000 convenience stores.
With the current concerns about the environment, sustainability and one-time-use plastics, though, I think it¡¯s time to re-evaluate the word ¡°convenient.¡±
The opposite of ¡°convenient¡± is ¡°inconvenient.¡± It¡¯s a pretty sure bet that no one is fond of inconveniences, but they tend to be subjective. What¡¯s the line between inconvenience and just plain laziness?
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