The Mitsukoshi lion statue, celebrating its 100th birthday in 2014, has specially ordered a Sanyo coat. Measurements were taken, and the fitting process was open to the press at the Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store. This marks the first time the lion statue has worn a costume since it first appeared at the store's main entrance in 1914. This initiative coincides with the "Sanyo Winter Coat Campaign," which will be held on the first floor of the Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store from December 4th. Sanyo Shokai, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, has specially commissioned a "100-Year Coat" for the Mitsukoshi lion. Two lion statues wearing the coats will be on display at the venue from December 4th. Full-scale production began in October, with Sanyo Shokai's technical development team working on the project. After creating the toile from sheeting, the coat was fitted out using the same high-density yarn-dyed gabardine as the commercially available coat, buffalo buttons with the store's original logo, and the lining, all made from the same materials, were used for the fitting. "The two lion statues we're making this time are slightly different in size, so rather than two identical coats, each one is a special order. The neck circumference is two meters, and the length required is four times that of a normal coat. Because the lion statues have no shoulders, we struggled with the process of deforming them so that they appear to be wearing a coat when viewed from the front," said the company's designer, Jun Katayama. The front part of the coat (around the neck) can actually be closed.

The company's "100-Year Coat" is sewn by skilled workers at Sanyo Sewing's Aomori factory, one of the few factories in Japan that specializes in coats, and the buttons are attached by hand, showcasing the craftsmanship of artisans down to the smallest details, with the aim of creating a coat that will be loved by generations.