|
|
| |
 |
|
|
The central hall of Japan's first department store.
|
 |
The Mitsukoshi Ltd. department store claims to have invented fixed-price retails sales for clothes at a tiny kimono store in the late 17th century. Their ideas was to let the general public come to buy kimonos that only wealthy people could afford and which were usually sold by traveling salespeople.
In 1872, the Mitsukoshi family took over the business, and in 1904, Mitsukoshi Drapery Store Co., Ltd. was founded. Their first managing director Osuke Hibi proclaimed it "the first department store in Japan."
A restaurant was added in 1907. In 1914, the renaissance-style annex of the Nihonbashi Main Store was completed, which featured statues of lions and the first escalators in Japan. The earthquake of 1923 caused the main store and the annex to burn down. Four years later, the imposing and elaborate Mitsukoshi Hall shown here opened in the main store in Tokyo's Nihonbashi area. Today, it has become the Mitsukoshi Theater.
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
tags
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
by
|
 |
|
links
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
© imagesofasia 2007-08 |
|
