Japanese supermarket chains are trying to lure elderly shoppers, by offering mahjong parlors, health counseling, and other services specifically for these customers.

In August, major supermarket operator Daiei opened a mahjong parlor inside its Matsudo outlet in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo.

Betting, drinking and smoking are prohibited inside the parlor, but players can bring in their own lunch for their games of mahjong. The company's officials say the move is to get elderly people to stay inside the outlet for a longer period of time, and to lure them into buying goods.

They say the mahjong parlor is crowded with people in their 60s to 80s. A woman in her 70s says she came here in the morning, and has been here 4 hours or so. She says she would like to come back to the mahjong area, when she comes here for shopping.

Kasumi, a supermarket operator based in the Kanto region, in April began offering a bi-weekly health counselling service at its Koshigaya outlet in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

Customers check their blood pressure and body fat levels, and nutritionists offer tips to improve their diet.