Since opening its new wing in 2004, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store has seen a steady decline in customer numbers compared to the previous year for the past few years, but the store is suddenly booming, with visitor numbers in August up 8% compared to the previous year.

"On the weekend, young couples were walking hand in hand down Chuo-dori. This was a sight I had never seen before, so I looked into what was going on in Nihonbashi and found out that they were people coming to see the 'Art Aquarium 2013 - Cooling Down Edo Goldfish' at Coredo Muromachi and the Mitsui Main Building, which was used as a filming location for the TV drama 'Hanzawa Naoki,'" says a cheerful Naka Yoji, Managing Executive Officer of Mitsukoshi Isetan and General Manager of Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store, Core Stores Division, Sales Headquarters. "ECO ECO Nihonbashi Diners Club Art Aquarium 2013 - Edo Goldfish Coolness," held at the Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall in Coredo Muromachi from July 13th to September 23rd, continues to attract 130% more attendees than last year, and the popular drama "Hanzawa Naoki" is doing extremely well, with an average viewer rating of 24.4% through episode 6. The Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store, serving as a sightseeing route from the station, is said to be contributing to the increase in visitors in August. While sales in the first quarter of this fiscal year (April-June) were strong at 103.9% compared to last year, in-store growth in July was 97.2%, below the previous year. High-priced items performed well in August, with sales up 120%, and store manager Naka is enthusiastic about the year-end gift sales season, saying, "We'll give it back 10 times!"