Right from the beginning of the novel, there is an emphasis on the impact of Walmart and its considerations with the American identity. It is consistently referred to throughout the novel. In the third chapter specifically, Jane states that Suzuki, "had a passion for Jack Daniel's, Walmart, and American hard-core pornography." And then she states that he would ask about Walmart whenever they entered a new town.
What is most important in this aspect is when Jane states that she does not blame him for these questions. She then states, "There wasn't anyplace else to go in those towns. I mean, if you took a Sociological Survey of the people who lived there, they all spent their days off at Walmart too."
This continues as well, when Jane makes the statement that what truly impresses her group is the sheer amplitude of America. "To a Japanese person, Walmart is awesome, the capitalist equivalent of the wide open spaces and endless horizons of the American geographical frontier. All this for the taking!"
To the characters introduced so far that have not had past experiences with Walmart, they see it as exemplifying American identity and culture. There are great opportunities and low costs in America. And I see this as a misrepresentation, as Walmart and other large corporations are essentially destroying true culture as smaller business, local shops and stores are not able to compete and are forced out of business. As well as their mistreatment of their employees, this portrayal so far in the novel seems deceiving and I am curious to see if progression into this area will continue in the rest of the novel.
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