Official

　I saw the "Department Store Exhibition" being held at Takashimaya Archives TOKYO on the 4th floor of the main building of Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. This exhibition was an attempt to look at the history of department stores from the birth of department stores in Japan to the present day, when many large commercial facilities appear, with a bird's-eye view of chronology like a mural, and see the history of department stores from architecture.

　Three models of department store architecture were exhibited in the hall. The model of the non-existent Shirakiya Nihonbashi store had overwhelmingly modern windows, indicating the situation at that time that it was open while opening the windows.

　What was very impressive was that an elephant, which had been bred for four years since 1950 after the war on the roof of Nihonbashi Takashimaya, was transported from the ground to the roof. The title is "Hanging the Elephant". It was a very valuable video showing how department stores at that time gave customers dreams and hopes.

　A few years ago, I visited the main building of Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. after a long time. When I entered from the front entrance on the first floor and looked up at the ceiling, I was impressed as if I was trembling in the magnificent atmosphere. By placing yourself in an extraordinary space, everyday fatigue will be healed, and hope for tomorrow will come out. It was a "Department Store Exhibition" that reminded me that department store architecture has such power again.

Location: Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building Takashimaya Archives TOKYO 4F gallery space

Opening time: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Free admission

Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (open on public holidays), year-end and New Year holidays (December 26 to January 3, 2023)

Exhibition Period: September 7, 2022 (Wednesday) to February 12, 2023 (Sunday)