Mitsukoshi, Isetan, Iwataya, and Marui Imai began as kimono stores and kimono merchants. Looking back on their history, it is clear that they contributed to the development of kimono culture and industry.
In 1904, Mitsukoshi declared the inception of what was Japan’s first ever department store in a letter of invitation to its business partners at the time of its establishment as a joint stock company. The following year, on January 2, 1905, the company pub lished its Department Store Declaration in major newspapers throughout Japan, declaring to all stakeholders the birth of the department store along with the promotion of culture. The creation of department store culture in Japan began with the idea of Ousu ke Hibi, who was serving as managing director at the time, that department stores should aim for enlightenment in all aspects of culture, including learning, literature, and art.
In 2023, Mitsukoshi celebrated its 350th anniversary. In keeping with the spirit of the company’s founding, we are undertaking a variety of initiatives to contribute to the promotion and transmission of culture and tradition under the theme of “Innovation beyond tradition.”
The 350th anniversary of the foundation of Mitsukoshi special site (Japanese version only)
The 66th Mie Exhibition, the first in a series of events planned for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Mitsukoshi, was held to introduce local specialties and crafts from Mie Prefecture, the birthplace of Mitsukoshi’s founder, Takatoshi Mitsui. At the venue, there was a special exhibition entitled Achievements of Takatoshi Mitsui, a Great Merchant from Matsusaka, featuring historical documents owned by Matsusaka City and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. Also on display was a faithful, life-size replica of a signboard inscribed with Mitsui’s commercial principle of “cash payment and honest, fixed prices indicated on labels.” This system, founded on over-the-counter sales, cash payments, and prices on labels, overturned the business practices of the time.* The exhibition also displayed hanging scrolls and ukiyoe prints, such as a picture of the Echigoya kimono shop in Kyoto, the predecessor of Mitsukoshi, and a portrait of founder Takatoshi Mitsui and his wife. The exhibition gave customers a unique glimpse into what things were like in those days, and we received comments about how happy they were to be able to see such valuable historical exhibits so close up, and about the wonderful exhibits that gave them a clear picture of how things were back then. We will continue our efforts to communicate the wonders of history and culture with the aim of enriching the lifestyles of our customers.
*In those days, the most prestigious kimono stores generally sold their goods either by taking orders from their customers in advance and bringing the goods to them later, or by selling directly to their customers at their residences. It was customary to make payments during the Obon (summer) or year-end seasons, or at the end of the month of December only. As a result, the price of goods was high and the turnover of funds was poor due to bad debts and high interest rates on selling on credit. The “cash payment and honest, fixed prices indicated on labels” business practice made kimono, once the preserve of the wealthy, widely available to the general public.,
Hanging scroll with portraits of Takatoshi Mitsui and his wife
Photo spot with a faithful, life size replica of a signboard from the time of EchigoyaMitsukoshi established the Mitsukoshi Costume Department in 1907. Through the early Showa period (first half of the 20th century), the company provided rental costumes for Kabuki performances, contributing to the development of Kabuki. Some of the Kabuki costumes produced at that time are still held in the archives of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.
In July 2023, we held the Kabuki Costume Exhibition as one of the events commemorating the 350th anniversary of the founding of Mitsukoshi. In order to provide visitors with an intimate look at costumes worn by actors decades ago, we collaborated with Shochiku Costume Co., Ltd., which produces costumes for current Kabuki performances, to create an elaborate exhibition that conveys the atmosphere of the time through a comparison of old and new costumes. Many visitors were very interested in seeing the different materials, dyes, patterns, and sizes used in costumes for the same roles depending on the period in which the costumes were made, such as Hige no Ikyu in Sukeroku: Flower of Edo, and the spirit of the wisteria plant in The Wisteria Maiden. Shochiku Costume Co., Ltd. also expressed their delight, saying that it was a great learning experience for them to see such innovative costumes from the early Showa period.
Special exhibition of 16 new and old Kabuki costumes
Comparative display of old and new Kabuki costumes from the early Showa period (left) and the present day (right)The Mitsukoshi Poster Exhibition was also held at the same time at the venue. This exhibition featured a series of posters from 1896 onward depicting realistic beautiful women wearing kimonos, PR magazine covers by Hisui Sugiura, who was the exclusive designer for Mitsukoshi, and other works reflecting the trends of the time and the history of Mitsukoshi.We will continue aspiring to create culture from department stores, building on the contributions to culture that the Isetan Mitsukoshi Group has been preserving for the past 350 years.
Special exhibition of approx. 20 historical posters from MitsukoshiThe pipe organ installed on the balcony of the central hall on the second floor of the Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store has been a symbol of Mitsukoshi’s culture for more than 90 years, filling the store with its profound tones. The main building of the Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store was designated a National Important Cultural Property in May 2016 as a symbol of the history of department stores in Japan, and the pipe organ was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Chuo City in 2009. It has long been popular with customers as a one-of-a-kind space that transmits culture and art. The pipe organ, which has continued to be played over the years while undergoing a series of restorations, was deteriorating, with an increasing number of keys no longer producing sound. In order to ensure that the organ could be passed on for the next 100 years, we decided to take it out of service starting in February 2023, and over the course of approximately six months, undertook a major restoration project. While keeping the existing body and apparatus as much as possible, we removed components that needed to be cleaned, recovered, and repaired, and carefully proceeded with the restoration in-store and in the workshop of a professional restorer, with work finally being completed in September.
A special concert was held to commemorate the resumption of pipe organ performances. Collaborating with members of the Nihombashi Junior High School Brass Band (30 members in total), whose members will be the future pillars of society, the audience was captivated by this special performance of the revived pipe organ. The audience who listened to the performance expressed their appreciation, saying that they had been looking forward to seeing the pipe organ in action once again, and that they were moved by the wonderful performance. When the performance was over, the students were all smiles and full of confidence. We will continue to pursue “Innovation beyond tradition” and promote initiatives that lead to a rich lifestyle and culture for our customers.
Central hall balcony, 2nd floor, main building of Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store
Special concert to commemorate the resumption of pipe organ performancesThe Isetan Mitsukoshi Group’s history of cultural exhibitions began in 1904 with the Exhibition of Korin’s Personal Effects, held at the Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store. It aimed to create a uniquely Japanese culture, not only by selling goods, but also by making it one of the missions of a modern department store to allow everyone to freely enjoy Japanese culture, especially the arts.
The Nihon Dentō Kōgeiten is an annual public exhibition of the skills and beauty of Japanese crafts held by the Japan Kōgei Association with the aim of protecting and cultivating Japan’s outstanding traditional crafts. This year marks the 70th anniversary since the first Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Properties was held at the Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store. The exhibition features selected works from the public in the seven categories of ceramics, textiles, lacquerware, metalwork, wood and bamboo crafts, dolls, and other crafts, as well as the latest works by Important Intangible Cultural Property Holders. In addition, to commemorate the 70th anniversary, a special exhibition and sale of past works by 22 artists representing each category was held. Also on display were panels of photos in the archive of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings from the time of the Emperor and Empress Showa’s visit to the exhibition, and the reception of HIH Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu, the first president of the Japan Kōgei Association. In an ever-changing society, we are committed to ensuring the sustainable development of traditional craft techniques through initiatives such as the Nihon Dentō Kōgeiten.
Special exhibition and sale held in the central hall on the 1st floor of the main building to commemorate the 70th anniversary
In 2023, Sendai Mitsukoshi celebrated its 90th anniversary. Having experienced the devastation of war and earthquakes, throughout its history the store has joined hands with the local community to work toward the reconstruction and development of the city. Under the theme of “The excitement never stops,” we are working to pass on historical culture and traditions, weaving a story that continues from the past into the future. During the Sendai Aoba Festival, which was held in May for the first time in four years, about 30 employees, including those from our business partners, participated in the Sendai Suzume Odori dance, a traditional performing art originating in Sendai.
Members of Sendai Mitsukoshi who participated in the Suzume Odori danceThe participants danced nimbly, dressed in matching costumes and holding fans that resembled sparrows’ wings. Seeking to return to its origins and to create a department store-like atmosphere, in March the department store held a session with Kazunori Kumagai, a tap dancer from Sendai who is active in various parts of the world, to enliven the city. Passersby commented how wonderful it was for Mitsukoshi to hold such an interesting event, and that they were impressed by how everyone danced with such zeal, as well as that it was good to see the shopping arcade bustling with activity for the first time in a long time.
Congratulatory messages from other retailers who are working together to revitalize the community were displayed in the window on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the store’s opening. The message from a department store in Sendai, which began with the words “Together, we will continue be here.” received a particularly strong response, especially on social media. We will continue to co-create with members of the community and further contribute to the development of local culture and traditions.
Congratulatory message displayed on the wall of Sendai Mitsukoshi Jozenji dori BuildingIn recent years, the share of domestically produced silk is said to be less than 1% of the amount of silk consumed in Japan. Therefore, the Isetan Mitsukoshi Group, which originated as kimono stores, spent more than 10 years developing pure Japanese silk that is produced entirely in Japan, from sericulture to spinning and weaving, with the aim of maintaining silk farmers and Japanese-produced silk. Responding to customers’ requests for kimono that do not wrinkle easily and their feedback that “kimono in the old days were more supple and had a better texture,” we started by improving the silkworm breed. The silk produced from threads that are 80% finer than those made by normal silkworms was named Sanko* in the hope that the silk farmers, the silk spinners/weavers/retailers, and the customers will all continue to sparkle like silk. The fabric, characterized by its elegant luster, supple texture, and excellent coloring, is used in a wide variety of kimono, from solid-colored kimono to multi-colored furisode (long-sleeved kimono). In order to pass on Japan’s silk culture to the next generation, we aim to utilize the fabric for a wide range of items, including Western-style clothing.
*The word Sanko is written with characters that mean three and sparkle.
Providing support and nurturing the next generation is essential if we are to promote and pass on culture and traditions. Here, we introduce some of the things we do to support and nurture those students and young artists who will be the bearers of the future.
Isetan Mitsukoshi has come into the spotlight as it celebrates the 350th anniversary of its founding in 2023. Therefore, Isetan Mitsukoshi’s PR staff came up with a variety of ideas and held numerous discussions on memorable PR methods that would take us into the 351st year and beyond. The role of PR staff is to increase Isetan Mitsukoshi’s corporate value by making as many people as possible aware of the company through external media. After considering what elements would have high reporting value for the media, we arrived at the idea of implementing a project that would lead to social contribution activities in addition to having a PR effect. Accordingly, we decided to collaborate with elementary schools and special-needs schools in areas where Mitsukoshi stores are located to launch a program to create designs for HANA-HIRAKU, our line of wrapping paper. Under this program, students learn about the unique Japanese culture of wrapping and the power of design through Mitsukoshi’s wrapping paper. The project was made possible through collaboration with many departments, including the team that manages Isetan Mitsukoshi’s logo, visuals, and other things.
HANA-HIRAKU, the first original wrapping paper for a department store in Japan, was designed by artist Genichiro Inokuma in 1950. Mr. Inokuma was walking around Inubosaki in Chiba one day, when he saw a rock being buffeted by the waves on the shore and decided to use the theme of “stubborn and strong against the waves” as the inspiration for this design. Since then, it has been a beloved symbol of Mitsukoshi.
Through this program, we laid out the following three key themes that we would like to convey to the children:
(1) Japanese culture (the beauty of style and consideration for others)
(2) The beauty and power of nature
(3) The use of everyday wrapping paper as a subject matter to provide an opportunity for learning about design
Original HANAThe program began in June 2023, starting with Kyobashi Tsukiji Elementary School in Chuo City, Tokyo, where the Mitsukoshi Ginza store is located. By September, the program had been successively hosted at the following stores: Mitsukoshi Ginza, Fukuoka Mitsukoshi, Takamatsu Mitsukoshi, Sapporo Mitsukoshi, Mit sukoshi Nihombashi Main Store, and Nagoya Mitsukoshi. For this program, we invited graphic designer Ken Okamoto to come and give a lecture on the meaning of wrapping, the beauty of natural forms, and the power of design. Isetan Mitsukoshi employees also gave a demonstration of so called “diagonal wrapping,” a nd the participants learned how to show consideration for others by wrapping gifts differently according to the occasion. During group work, participants made use of the background of the HANA HIRAKU motif to create original wrapping paper based on the con cept of “the beautiful shape of nature as I see it.” Each group completed their own HANA HIRAKU by cutting out colored paper in the shape of their choice and pasting it on the base paper. These original HANA HIRAKU designed by elementary school students will be printed on the same paper and ink as the real HANA HIRAKU and actually used to wrap goods at Mitsukoshi stores. Rather than art to be displayed, these co creations with children will take the form of art that embraces the feelings of customers, thereby passing on Japan’s unique culture and art to the future.
Lecture by Ken Okamoto
Demonstration of wrapping to fourth grade students of Takamatsu Elementary School Attached to the Faculty of Education, Kagawa University
Fifth graders of Kyobashi Tsukiji Elementary School, Chuo City, working in a groupBeginning in 2022, the Direct Sales Management Department is inviting customers to become owners of antique violins and loan their instruments to the next generation of artists
The tones of antique violins fascinate both performers and listeners. However, prices of antique violins have skyrocketed, making it difficult for performers themselves to purchase them. Therefore, we developed a plan to meet the needs of our out of store cus tomers, taking as our reference a system of support for the arts that has been in place in Europe since medieval times. We proposed this as a new way of both holding assets and contributing to society, and within one year, two customers became owners of mu sical instruments, which have been loaned to two artists to date.
In June 2023, we held a violin concert at Toppan Hall (Bunkyo City, Tokyo), to which a limited number of out of store customers were invited. The first part of the program gave the audience a chance to listen to and compare five Stradivarius violins played by Tsugio Tokunaga, long time concertmaster of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Violin concert held at Toppan Hall
The second part of the program featured a concert by young artists who have won the Music Competition of Japan and other overseas competitions. During the after party, the customer s, performers, representatives from music stores, and Isetan Mitsukoshi discussed the popularization of classical music and the difficult situation surrounding performers from various perspectives, and were able to interact with one goal in mind: to suppor t culture and the arts. Hinano Ogihara, a violinist who has received a loaner instrument, commented as follows: “Encountering a good instrument is also an encounter with new tones, which I feel greatly increases the variety of musical expression.
In classi cal music, all players play the same score. Every day, I become all too aware that in order to reach the pinnacle of the world of classical music, I need to express myself in my own unique way. I want to spread my wings to the world as a player representin g Japan. I feel that this instrument is giving me the opportunity to do so.”
Hinano OgiharaIn July, we also held a concert in the banquet room inside the Nagoya Mitsukoshi Sakae store. We invited a violinist from Aichi Prefecture to perform, providing an opportunity for the performer and customers to interact. We plan to further expand our effor ts with regional stores in the future.
Music touches the heart. By having customers become owners of musical instruments, we can ensure that performers are able to acquire first rate instruments, and that they are able to shine brighter and deliver more emotion than ever before. This is exactly what our corporate philosophy of “Touching people’s hearts with human driven experiences” is all about.
For 75 years, our Group company, Leotex Ltd. has been honing its advanced sewing techniques in its own factories and in fabric manipulation and processing rooms in department stores, earning the trust and support of our customers. Leotex also focuses on training the next generation, and has accepted internship students from Bunka Fashion College since 2015. In 2023, we conducted three 2-day training sessions, which included a tour of the Mitsukoshi Nihombashi, Isetan Shinjuku, and Mitsukoshi Ginza stores and their fabric manipulation and processing rooms, as well as practical training under the guidance of employees who had joined the company after completing their internships. The participating students commented that the internship made them realize the importance of working carefully while keeping in mind work that exceeds the customer’s needs and expectations, and that they were very happy to be able to touch the fabrics of a brand they have longed to work with. In addition, they heard firsthand comments from senior employees on various things, such as about how they learn techniques and knowledge on a one-on-one basis through their daily work, how the company has an established internal curriculum, and how they can take on difficult jobs that require skills. These comments helped the students visualize their own future careers. These opportunities to interact with students enable us to experience new sensitivities and perspectives, as well as to improve our teaching methods and other aspects of technical succession. To date, 11 students from this college have joined our company, and we will continue to work on acquiring and developing new human resources through internships, as well as providing students with opportunities to think about their own career aptitude and future plans.
Internship student training in progress
Japanese manga, animation, films, and video games attract attention worldwide. These are defined as “media arts” in Article 9 of Japan’s Basic Act on Culture and the Arts. The Isetan Mitsukoshi Group has launched Isetan Mitsukoshi Media Arts, building on our experience in promoting culture and supporting artists. We collaborate with outstanding works and creators of media arts to organize a variety of cultural events.
In August 2022, One Piece Film: Red × Isetan, a collaboration with the movie One Piece Film: Red, was held at the Isetan Shinjuku Main Store, on the Isetan Mitsukoshi online store, and on the online gift site MOO:D Mark by ISETAN. Going forward, we will continue to introduce attractive media arts and original events.
© Eiichiro Oda / 2022 "One Piece" Production Committee