Mitsukoshi, a department store in the Mitsukoshi Isetan Group, will celebrate its 350th anniversary in 2023. Founded in 1673 as a kimono shop called Echigoya, Mitsukoshi was the first in Japan to declare itself a department store in 1904, and has built a rich history as a department store ever since. To commemorate the 350th anniversary, for 12 months from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, Mitsukoshi stores nationwide, select overseas stores, and the Isetan Mitsukoshi online store will be implementing various sales initiatives under the theme of "innovation beyond tradition" to deliver "special value that will make customers feel the excitement for Mitsukoshi in the future."
Message from the President
Together with You, 350 Years Beyond
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.
Director, President and CEO
Toshiyuki Hosoya
About the Isetan Mitsukoshi 350th Anniversary Logo
The Mitsukoshi 350th anniversary logo is based on the familiar lion statue found at Mitsukoshi stores nationwide. This lion statue was installed in 1914 (Taisho 3) by then-general manager Osuke Hibi. Modeled after the four lions beneath Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London, England, the lions have been a symbol of Mitsukoshi for over 100 years. They are now beloved and used as meeting places in towns across Japan where Mitsukoshi stores are located. The combination of the logo with the Mitsukoshi logo embodies our strong desire to remain a beloved presence for our local customers, today, tomorrow, and into the future.
Mitsukoshi's 350th Anniversary Initiatives To commemorate the 350th anniversary of Mitsukoshi's founding and to express our gratitude for our customers' patronage, various sales initiatives will be implemented at each store until the end of March 2024, starting with the "Mitsukoshi 350th Anniversary Grand Founding Festival" to be held in April 2023. Additionally, Sendai Mitsukoshi and Hiroshima Mitsukoshi, which will celebrate their 90th and 50th anniversaries in 2023, are planning special events to commemorate their anniversaries.
Implementation period: Saturday, April 1, 2023 - Sunday, March 31, 2024
Participating stores: Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Ginza Mitsukoshi, Sapporo Mitsukoshi, Sendai Mitsukoshi, Nagoya Mitsukoshi Sakae, Nagoya Mitsukoshi Hoshigaoka, Hiroshima Mitsukoshi, Takamatsu Mitsukoshi, Matsuyama Mitsukoshi, Fukuoka Mitsukoshi
Orlando Mitsukoshi MITSUKOSHI BGC (Philippines)
Isetan Mitsukoshi Online Store
[Examples of main initiatives]
"Mitsukoshi 350th Anniversary Grand Founding Festival" is scheduled to be held at Mitsukoshi stores nationwide in April, September and October 2023, and March 2024.
Special website disseminating information about Mitsukoshi's 350th anniversary
A teaser website will open on January 1, 2023, the start of the anniversary year. Content will be updated regularly, and from April 1, 2023, the special website will begin disseminating information about Mitsukoshi's 350th anniversary.
From Sunday, January 1, 2023 (national holiday)
https://www.mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/common/event_calendar/350th.html
About the History of Mitsukoshi
Mitsukoshi was founded in 1673 (the first year of the Enpo era) as a kimono store called Echigoya.
Founder Mitsui Takatoshi was unconstrained by conventional business practices, and was quick to recognize the emergence of new customer segments due to social change, creating a number of business methods that are now commonplace. He was the first in the world to introduce "no markup" in front of the store, based on over-the-counter sales, cash payments, and fixed price sales. He also proclaimed, "We will sell any amount of cloth," and changed the business practice of only purchasing cloth by the bolt, allowing for sales by the piece, creating a system where anyone who wanted could purchase only the amount they wanted. With this innovative method, kimono, which at the time was reserved for the wealthy, was made widely available to the general public.
In 1904 (Meiji 37), Mitsukoshi announced the beginning of Japan's first department store. Upon the establishment of the company, greeting cards containing the "Department Store Declaration" were sent to customers and business partners nationwide on December 20th, and the declaration was published in major newspapers nationwide the following year, 1905 (Meiji 38). The birth of the department store was proclaimed to all stakeholders, marking the beginning of the history of department stores in Japan. Since its founding, the company has always put the customer first, repeatedly innovating through originality and ingenuity to adapt to changing times, while continuing to propose a rich lifestyle and culture with its "spirit of sincerity" that has remained unchanged since its founding: "For the customer."
Message from the President
Together with You, 350 Years Beyond
On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of Mitsukoshi's founding, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our stakeholders, including our customers, business partners, and local residents, who have supported us for so many years. We, as employees, are proud to be celebrating our 350th anniversary, but at the same time, we feel a sense of responsibility.
Mitsukoshi was founded in August 1673 as "Echigoya." Over the past 350 years, we have overcome numerous challenges by transforming ourselves. Mitsukoshi's history is one of customer-first thinking and a constant pursuit of innovation. Its foundation is its "spirit of sincerity," unwavering since its founding. Furthermore, rather than simply generating profits through its business activities, Mitsukoshi has sought to address various social issues and share the benefits of these efforts with stakeholders. This philosophy, called "Creating Shared Value (CSV)," is a corporate philosophy that will remain essential in the future.
The serious impacts of global warming and international tensions make the future increasingly difficult to predict. Furthermore, the prolonged impact of COVID-19 has forced us to adopt new rules and lifestyles. Our mission as a group is to continue to adapt to these changing times and create value for a richer life.
In 2021, we established our long-term vision as "a retail group with an "extraordinary" department store at its core that enriches the lives of our customers." We aim to be a "special" department store that can "provide inspiring solutions to our customers' problems and offer innovative solutions to their concerns," and in doing so, we intend to create a new business model as a retail group with department stores at its core. It is precisely in these uncertain times that we wish to hone our greatest strength, the power of our people, and create a future we can be proud of together with all our stakeholders. We hope for your continued support, as always.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.
Director, President and CEO
Toshiyuki Hosoya
About the Isetan Mitsukoshi 350th Anniversary Logo
The Mitsukoshi 350th anniversary logo is based on the familiar lion statue found at Mitsukoshi stores nationwide. This lion statue was installed in 1914 (Taisho 3) by then-general manager Osuke Hibi. Modeled after the four lions beneath Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London, England, the lions have been a symbol of Mitsukoshi for over 100 years. They are now beloved and used as meeting places in towns across Japan where Mitsukoshi stores are located. The combination of the logo with the Mitsukoshi logo embodies our strong desire to remain a beloved presence for our local customers, today, tomorrow, and into the future.
Mitsukoshi's 350th Anniversary Initiatives To commemorate the 350th anniversary of Mitsukoshi's founding and to express our gratitude for our customers' patronage, various sales initiatives will be implemented at each store until the end of March 2024, starting with the "Mitsukoshi 350th Anniversary Grand Founding Festival" to be held in April 2023. Additionally, Sendai Mitsukoshi and Hiroshima Mitsukoshi, which will celebrate their 90th and 50th anniversaries in 2023, are planning special events to commemorate their anniversaries.
Implementation period: Saturday, April 1, 2023 - Sunday, March 31, 2024
Participating stores:
[Examples of main initiatives]
"Mitsukoshi 350th Anniversary Grand Founding Festival" is scheduled to be held at Mitsukoshi stores nationwide in April, September and October 2023, and March 2024.
Special website disseminating information about Mitsukoshi's 350th anniversary
A teaser website will open on January 1, 2023, the start of the anniversary year. Content will be updated regularly, and from April 1, 2023, the special website will begin disseminating information about Mitsukoshi's 350th anniversary.
From Sunday, January 1, 2023 (national holiday)
https://www.mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/common/event_calendar/350th.html
About the History of Mitsukoshi
Mitsukoshi was founded in 1673 (the first year of the Enpo era) as a kimono store called Echigoya.
Founder Mitsui Takatoshi was unconstrained by conventional business practices, and was quick to recognize the emergence of new customer segments due to social change, creating a number of business methods that are now commonplace. He was the first in the world to introduce "no markup" in front of the store, based on over-the-counter sales, cash payments, and fixed price sales. He also proclaimed, "We will sell any amount of cloth," and changed the business practice of only purchasing cloth by the bolt, allowing for sales by the piece, creating a system where anyone who wanted could purchase only the amount they wanted. With this innovative method, kimono, which at the time was reserved for the wealthy, was made widely available to the general public.
In 1904 (Meiji 37), Mitsukoshi announced the beginning of Japan's first department store. Upon the establishment of the company, greeting cards containing the "Department Store Declaration" were sent to customers and business partners nationwide on December 20th, and the declaration was published in major newspapers nationwide the following year, 1905 (Meiji 38). The birth of the department store was proclaimed to all stakeholders, marking the beginning of the history of department stores in Japan. Since its founding, the company has always put the customer first, repeatedly innovating through originality and ingenuity to adapt to changing times, while continuing to propose a rich lifestyle and culture with its "spirit of sincerity" that has remained unchanged since its founding: "For the customer."
