Official

Episode 5 The smell of department stores in Chuo-ku flows sweetly and fragrantly

　Today, I came to Nihonbashi Takashimaya with the yellow little bird.

　The yellow little bird puts on a small brooch on the red neccachief that he always wears on his neck. Even though it's a brooch, Kotori's brooch is a leaf. A little bird with a stupid face, decorated with small green leaves, just like a small finger nail.

　The cherry trees on Takashimaya Street have also sprouted a lot. From here, straight to Tokyo Station, a row of cherry blossom trees continues.

　Takashimaya's show window will be fun just by looking at it. On this day, there were exhibitions of various poses and fashion by Rose of Takashimaya.

　Rose-chan was born in 1959. At that time, the name was Happy-chan, aiming to create a shop that would please children for Christmas. I'm happy to sing in the choir. After that, Lucky appeared and became Rose-chan now in 1962.

　When I stood in front of the entrance and looked up, it was a very powerful building. The temple-style design is scattered everywhere. The heavy door at the entrance is a swastika. It makes you feel majesty. After all, the stairwells on the first and second floors are beautiful. The ceiling is the prestigious coffered ceiling. It is supported by a temple-style independent pillar. An elegant central stairs. A balcony lined up on the second floor. Every time you visit, you will be fascinated by the delicate decoration.

　At the foot of the escalator, there was Rose with a rose. They welcome me and the yellow little bird carefully.

"Thank you very much,"

　The yellow little bird was a little worried and bowed to Rose. I laugh at it.

　When you enter the small entrance along the stairs and stairs, it becomes a coffee shop. I ordered a warm coffee and a sandwich, and the yellow little bird ordered milk. I'm going to add chocolate cake to it today with a little luxury.

　In the first place, I came to this coffee shop because of the examination question of the Chuo-ku Tourism Certification.
The Yonei Building, located in Ginza 2-chome, is lined with unique windows attached to twist pillars of Romanesque style in the Middle Ages. It was a question of the type of "window".

　A. Rose window Firelight window U. Triple window e. Arch window

　From these four, choose one answer that you think is right. I, of course, chose "E. Arch Window". If you answer, the correct answer! When I had a guts pose, I said to the little bird in a very good mood.

"This 4-choice laugh! It's a rose window! Why does the rose window come into four choices? If you say rose windows, it's the name of a coffee shop in Nihonbashi Takashimaya!"

　That said, I laughed with my stomach.

　The yellow little bird stared at me silently and smiled very meaningfully.

"Are you really saying that?"

　While laughing too much and tears, I swing the little bird.

　The eyes met for a moment, and then the little bird began to laugh with his stomach.

　I'm going to do it.

　The yellow little bird, after laughing at all,

"Well, I'll take you to Takashimaya's 'rose window'."

　He said.

"It's nice to have a coffee shop in a department store. I have a special feeling!"

　I'm frightened. The yellow little bird, too

"I love department stores, too. It smells good when you enter the shop. Somehow, the smell of the cosmetics department on the first floor, the smell of the feast lined up in the basement grocery department, and the smell of the customers who have been surprised.…」

"The smell of insect repellents and closets!"

"Sweet smell!"

　And the yellow little bird says to me.

"I might be able to hit a department store in Chuo-ku with the smell!"

　I thought about it.

"Is it true?"

　The yellow little bird puts himself on.

"Well, what is the smell of Mitsukoshi?"

"Mitsukoshi in Nihonbashi has a very colorful smell!"

"What kind of smell is it?"

"The smell of a mixture of 400-year history and tradition of Edo Nihonbashi. It seems that the smell of kimono from the Edo period still remains. There is a stylish breeze of modern people!'

　I am.

"Then, what about Mitsukoshi in Ginza?"

"The white smell of three primary colors!"

"What is that?"

"A lot of colors at the Ginza 4-chome intersection, which is rich in international colors, is mixed and eventually returns to white!"

"But there seems to be a smell of different cultures in the back."

"In addition to the culture of Ginza, Chuo-ku, the culture brought by the people who gather there from each town. And the smell of history and town. The atmosphere."

"That's good!"

　Speaking of Ginza, there is also Matsuya.

"Matsuya has the smell of old Ginza."

"In the middle of Ginza, which is changing so much, we have a nostalgic smell."

"Department like an air pocket"

"But it continues to evolve,"

"Of course. I'm going to look for Ginza in the old and fine days."

"I'm glad that,"

　And the newest GINZA SIX.

"The smell of the near future."

"What is that?"

"Electrical smell,"

"Surely, if you are in that space, you will feel like you have come to another dimension. The decoration hanging from the ceiling of the atrium is overwhelmed by its gorgeousness."

"But the doors are hidden here and there."

"What's the door?"

"The door that can return to the Edo period"

"Yes, GINZA SIX is creating traffic lines that can pass through buildings to protect the old streets and alleys of Ginza. That's wonderful."

"It's like a time tunnel,"

　And then

"Nihonbashi Takashimaya is special!"

"Sansei!"

"I came to the department store! I feel like that."

"I feel a sign of being wrapped around the coming people."

"Is there a god of Takashimaya?"

　And we have each drink, thinking for a while.

　By the way…And the yellow little bird saw me.

"Is the mystery of the rose window?"

　I laughed shyly,

"After that, I've looked into it. Then the rose window was such a round window, like a wheel spokes, with the decoration radially extending from the center, and burying it in the form of petals. It wasn't the name of the coffee shop!"

　Then the yellow little bird smiled.

"The windows are often seen in churches in Europe in the Middle Ages. You often see the decoration that embeds the rose window in the pointed arch. I have some stained glass."

"But I don't know. In this way, I came to the rose window!"

　And I laugh.

　The main building of Nihonbashi Takashimaya is 2 basement floors and 8 floors above ground, making it fun just to look at women's clothing, children's clothing, men's clothing, sportswear, shoes, lingeries, living supplies, stationery, gifts, etc. I'm glad that there are some small coffee shops where you can take a break on the way, as well as restaurants and restaurant streets.

　It is unique to Takashimaya that store concierges, sales floor Meisters, sales specialists, etc., can provide advice on shopping. In addition, the places where there is a crawl for storing luggage and a coin locker are also delighted by customers coming out from afar.

　Speaking of Nihonbashi Takashimaya, it's a manual elevator. The inner wall of the marble is a warm atmosphere reminiscent of wood grain. The elevator was made by Aucius in the United States, and although it has been renovated, it was said that it was at the time of its foundation.

　The older sister of the elevator girl will guide you politely. The sound of the voices indicating each floor and the pins and the fingertips with white gloves that are stretched remind us of a special day and nature today. I and the yellow little bird were standing with his back stretching for a while.

　I went to the rooftop.

"Wow, amazing!"

　We are overwhelmed by the scenery seen from there.

"You can also see River City 21 in Tsukuda!"

"It's strange!"

"Why, when you go up high, you look for the city where you live."

"If you find a familiar building or the scenery you know, you'll be happy."

"If you look at this way, Chuo-ku is close to the Nihonbashi area and the Kyobashi area."

"I wonder if the area was 10.21 km2. It's a very small ward."

"It's stuffed in it!"

"I can't tell you!"

"A town like a full course!"

　And I and the yellow little bird breathe in full toward the blue sky.

　The history of Takashimaya is old.

　In 1831, the first Shinshichi Iida started "Takashimaya" in Karasuma, Kyoto. At first it was a second-hand cotton dealer. It was in 1855 that he began dealing with kimono and fat.

"The Tokyo store was opened in 1900, and at that time it opened in Nishikonyamachi, Kyobashi-ku."

"Where is Nishikonyamachi now?"

"Along the Sotobori-dori St. from Ginza 2-chome to 4-chome. The dyeing craftsmen lived there. I wonder if it comes from that."

"It's interesting! At first, it was not in the Nihonbashi area, but in the Kyobashi area!"

　And I look at that direction. But now there is no remnants, only building.

　The yellow little bird took out the old picture from the pochette. Kotori's pochette is small, so many photos are folded. Kotori spread it neatly and showed it to me.

"Wow, great!"

　It's a black and white picture of the season.

"What is this?"

"It's a picture of that time,"

　And the yellow little bird.

"The exterior looks like a masonry brick. It's a two-story building. "The pediment is impressive."

"What is Pediment?"

"Look, it's a triangular gable on the front of the building, on the entrances and windows. It is often seen in ancient Greek architecture."

"Isn't it similar to the design of the main building of the Bank of Japan? 」

　I think.

"Speaking of that, the main building of the Bank of Japan was established in 1896. It seems that you referred to the central bank of Belgium in the design of Kingo Tatsuno. I wonder if it was a Neo Baroque architecture."

"There's a word 'SILKS' on the wall. If you look closely, you can see a lot of box cars on the side. I wonder if the product was delivered to customers."

"There's also a slope in front of the building. I wonder if it's easy to put in and out."

　The yellow little bird showed me another picture.

"After that, we'll open a new store in Minami Temmacho. 1916."

"Minami Temmacho?"

"After all, around Kyobashi,"

"Yes?…"Three Temmacho," and Otemmacho, Kodemmacho, and Minami Temmacho were connecting horses for official travelers."

"That Minami Temmacho was spreading on both sides across the Chuo-dori street of Kyobashi today."

"On both sides of the town!"

　I clap my hand. The town of Edo was one town on both sides across public roads.

"The building at this time is like a three-story wooden building as far as you can see in the picture. The symmetrical, the center is a ridge roof, and the left and right are square roofs. The curtains in the window look like Blending of Japanese and Western elements. There was a modern car in front of the store. The arrival of Taisho romance. A large signboard with a brush letter has a strong presence."

"What happened to this precious photo, Kotori?"

　When I ask

"The little bird has something unexpected,"

　Said with a simplicity.

　The current building of Nihonbashi Takashimaya was built in 1933, designed by Sadataro Takahashi.

"The design of the building was open to the public."

　And the yellow little bird.

"Yes, I didn't know!"

"According to Mr. Takahashi's initial design, it was actually planned to have a gable around the eaves on the top floor."

"Well, it was more Japanese-style,"

　Buildings in the Taisho era and early Showa eras are said to be broadly divided into three directions.

　One is that, like Kabukiza, Japan's traditional architectural style is realized using the latest technology such as reinforced concrete instead of wooden structures. The second one is a mixture of Oriental designs, including Japan, like Tsukiji Honganji. Mitsutsume, like Nihonbashi Takashimaya, is an eclectic Japanese-Western style that incorporates Japanese-style elements into a West-style architecture.

"In the Meiji era, pseudo-Western style architecture became popular, isn't it? Like the Tsukiji Hotel Building, the hut structure is Japanese style, but only the exterior is Western style. This is because I longed for Western architecture and started to build a Western-style building, but Japanese carpenters did not know the Western-style huts yet. That's why the contents are traditional Japanese huts."

　And the yellow little bird.

"After such an era, when we decided to build a new National Diet Building in 1910, we began to review the challenges of what to do with Japanese architecture, and in that context, Nihonbashi Takashimaya's design was born."

　There was a small rose garden, and the dazzling sun was swaying. The water drops of the fountain dance slowly. On the way to the new building, it was a little white building with a curved curve.

"There's a strange building in such an inconspicuous place on the rooftop,"

　And I make it strange.

"I think it's a model with the motif of an elephant Takako."

　And the yellow little bird.

"It's true! An elephant-like shape."

　On the roof of Nihonbashi Takashimaya, there was also a time when the elephant Takako lived. I came to Japan from Thailand in 1950.

"We paraded along Ginza Street and reached Nihonbashi."

"Wow! A lot of people gathered and were so enthusiastic!'

　I imagine that my heart gets hot.

"Takako-chan gave everyone in Japan after the war."

　In front of the building, there is a small shrine called Kasamori Inari.

　It is said that when Nihonbashi Takashimaya expanded the store, Kasamori Inari, which was located at the planned site, was relocated to the rooftop.

"Between 27 and 1940, Togo Murano built an extension while incorporating modern architecture techniques."

"There's a natural sense of unity that doesn't make you feel it."

"Kasamori Inari was loved in the Nihonbashi area as a branch of Kasamori Inari Shrine in Settsu Kunishima Kami-gun. Today, Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture."

　And the yellow little bird.

"It's a god who came from above,"

"It was the people who gathered from such various places that created the town of Edo. There are no people in Edo from the beginning. Because when Ieyasu entered the office, it was a wetland full of reeds."

"The town of Edo was made up of the wind and spirit of the town brought by many people. And he created a unique culture. Oh, that's right. It's a town filled with positive power."

"Or the times…」

"The land and place that have been brought up by absorbing the signs of such people. That's Chuo-ku."

"Power Spot!"

"Yes, I want to live in Chuo-ku, but it's a power spot!"

`You can get better just by coming!'

　In 2009, it was designated as a national important cultural property for the first time in Japan as a department store building. "The whole is highly complete as an inseparable architectural work, and is important as one of the representative department store architecture in Japan." The designated name is "Takashimaya Tokyo Store".

　On the way back, I stopped by the food department on the first basement floor.

"A lot of delicious things!"

　I and the yellow little bird go there, come here, and go around. After all, I bought a whole big bread, bacon and salad. Then I went to the corner of the sweets, and looked around.

"There are many sweets from all over Japan!"

"I feel like I've been traveling!"

　I'll pick some sweets from a town that I've never been to. A square sand with plenty of walnuts. A pie wrapped in anko, green steamed bun.

　Then the little bird, I'm good! And pointed his beak to the small box. It is a small box of only palm size, decorated with Japanese paper, even with a drawer. When you open it, you will find kinpei sugar and sweet Japanese sweets.

"Like! When you finish eating it, you can use it with stationery!'

　I say that the yellow little bird is,

"I'll make it my room,"

　He said.

"A little bird's room?"

　I wondered the yellow little bird sitting in the drawer. You might want to leave the drawer open and leave it by the window. On the red Japanese paper pattern, Kotori's yellow feathers look very good.

"Like,"

　I'll tell you to buy it.

　I had only Kotori's room for gifts. Have them wrapped in a wonderful wrapping paper with a pink rose pattern.

"Wow, it's pretty!"

　Then, when I and the yellow little bird looked at each other,

"It's an English rose. It used to be a modern rose. This pattern is the fourth generation and has been in use since 2007."

　And the clerk raised his face and smiled.

"Sure, the motif was a picture plate given to Takashimaya from the National Meissen Porcelain Works in Germany?"

　And the yellow little bird suddenly shouted.

"Well,"

　And the clerk looked surprised, and then

"The first time a rose was placed on wrapping paper dates back to 1952. Since then, the rose has become a symbol of Takashimaya."

　He explained it carefully.

"It was from the third generation that it became a ring rose, and at that time, did you think of large and small roses as Takashimaya's store? Every time the number of stores increased, he said he was planning to add roses."

　And the yellow little bird of the girl.

"You know well!"

　And the clerk makes his face shine.

"It's an episode of maboroshi, which is not well known among our clerks. Unfortunately, it was only one time that the rose was added because it was too expensive.…」

　And then,

"This is my first visit to a small bird."

　And smiled with his heart full.

　Walk back on Chuo-dori to Kyobashi. When I turned around, the red and white flags of Nihonbashi Takashimaya were swaying in the wind.

"It's hot in Tokyo, where I left Takashimaya."

　Said the yellow little bird.

"Now, that,"

　When I laugh,

"It's an advertising copy of the whole building air-conditioning at that time."

　And the yellow little bird.

"It was a great thing to have air conditioning and heating."

"It seems that it was the first facility in Japan as a department store."

　I was impressed, and then,

"Spring is coming, leaving Takashimaya."

　I'll say it.

　The buds of the cherry blossoms bulge and indicate that spring is different. If you think, the wind is already quite soft.

"I feel that the smell of spring has become even thicker while I'm in Takashimaya."

　Said the yellow little bird.

"It's true…A sweet and savory smell."

　I make my nose cumbling.

　Then, the yellow little bird thinks for a moment,

"That's the smell of the bread and bacon that I bought now?"

　I laughed.

"Yes!"

　And they laugh cheerfully. Somehow, it was very fun.

"Let's come again!"

"Yes, let's come again!"

　We said so and once again locked the fun day into our hearts.

Continue

♪This story is a fiction based on "memory" when I left Nihonbashi Takashimaya a few years ago. Please refer to the Nihonbashi Takashimaya website for current service contents or measures based on the recent situation.

♪Reference "Chuo-ku Monoshiri Encyclopedia" Chuo-ku Tourism Association / "Chuo-ku Cultural Properties (Seven) Buildings" Chuo-ku Board of Education 1988 / Nihonbashi Takashimaya Homepage / "Nihonbashi Takashimaya Concierge's Best Hospitality" Masaho Shikida 2014

Correspondent Minato kid, Chuo-ku Tourism Association
No. 131 May 30, 2021