SAKAI, Fukui Prefecture (Kyodo) Pummeled by weak consumer spending, Japanese retailers are having to rethink their operations.

One relatively new concept -- the megastore -- has emerged as a star attraction in this regard, with shoppers showing an unusual willingness to part ways with their hard-earned yen.

Visitors to one such megastore, the Plant-2 Supercenter in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, are stuffing their carts with everything from fish to flowerpots.