Source:
https://scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/1932856/rise-and-occasional-fall-hong-kongs-japanese-department
Lifestyle/ Travel & Leisure

The rise (and occasional fall) of Hong Kong’s Japanese department stores

Starting with Daimaru in 1960, the city has seen big chains from Japan come and go

Christmas shoppers at the Daimaru store in Causeway Bay. Daimaru was the first chain from Japan to enter Hong Kong’s retail space.

When Daimaru opened Hong Kong’s first Japanese department store in November 1960, 4,000 guests attended the cocktail party marking the occasion.

The Causeway Bay store was the chain’s first overseas branch, but the retail mix was distinctly global, reflecting the British colony’s cosmopolitan outlook as an old East-meets-West trading port.

Daimaru announces its opening in Hong Kong.
Daimaru announces its opening in Hong Kong.
A 1960 advert for Daimaru in the South China Morning Post.
A 1960 advert for Daimaru in the South China Morning Post.
“Internationalism is the theme,” the Post reported. Daimaru had a supermarket, international bazaar, Italian tea room and Japanese dining room, with catering prepared by chefs brought in from Japan.

“The store is ultra modern and streamlined. The goods are attractively displayed on well spaced counters and soft music provides a constant background,” this newspaper said.

Opening of the Matsuzakaya department store at the Hang Lung Centre, Causeway Bay, April 1975
Opening of the Matsuzakaya department store at the Hang Lung Centre, Causeway Bay, April 1975
The store employed 400 local shop workers, trained in Japanese etiquette by the 15 Japanese managers who supervised them. This high level of customer service was a hallmark of all the Japanese department stores to follow in Hong Kong, as was the international retail mix.

When Matsuzakaya opened its Causeway Bay store 15 years after Daimaru, in 1975, a director told the Post only 50 per cent of the goods would come from Japan, with 30 per cent from Europe.

The quality of merchandise in the store would be higher than in all other Hong Kong department stores, “except Lane Crawford”, he said, but prices would be competitive.

Shoppers at Daimaru in Causeway Bay. CLICK TO LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY
Shoppers at Daimaru in Causeway Bay. CLICK TO LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY
In 1981, when Japan’s largest department store chain, Mitsukoshi, opened a Causeway Bay branch on King’s Road, company president Shigeru Okada said he was confident there would be enough business for all the area’s department stores. Prospects remained good, he said, and the net result could be that a greater number of shoppers would be lured to Causeway Bay.

This held true throughout the 1980s, and Sogo became the fourth Japanese department store on the block in 1985, with an MTR exit that helped funnel commuters through its aisles. The wide pavements on the corner of its King’s Road entrance became a popular meeting place for friends – a focal point previously enjoyed by Daimaru.

Mitsukoshi promotes the opening of the MTR’s Island Line serving Causeway Bay.
Mitsukoshi promotes the opening of the MTR’s Island Line serving Causeway Bay.
The last days of the Yaohan department store at the Whampoa Estate, Hung Hom. Yaohan had stores across the city but overexpanded.
The last days of the Yaohan department store at the Whampoa Estate, Hung Hom. Yaohan had stores across the city but overexpanded.
The Yaohan store in Yuen Long closes after finding itself HK$1.6 million in rent arrears, in November 1997.
The Yaohan store in Yuen Long closes after finding itself HK$1.6 million in rent arrears, in November 1997.
A number of factors have led to the demise of Hong Kong’s Japanese department stores since the 1990s, including rising rents, recession, eviction and – in the case of the biggest, Yaohan — overexpansion.

Other Japanese stores to have come and gone in Hong Kong over the past five decades include Isetan, Seibu and Tokyu.

Christmas shopping season in Causeway Bay, December 1976
Christmas shopping season in Causeway Bay, December 1976
Customers inspect the display at an Australian food fair in Daimaru, 1987.
Customers inspect the display at an Australian food fair in Daimaru, 1987.
A Mitsukoshi advert in the Post.
A Mitsukoshi advert in the Post.
Matsuzakaya announces its presence in Hong Kong with a Post advert.
Matsuzakaya announces its presence in Hong Kong with a Post advert.
Empty display racks at Yaohan’s store in Lam Tin after the chain announced its closure in November 1997.
Empty display racks at Yaohan’s store in Lam Tin after the chain announced its closure in November 1997.
Mitsukoshi promotes its handover souvenirs in May 1997.
Mitsukoshi promotes its handover souvenirs in May 1997.
Customers look for bargains at the Matsuzakaya department store in August 1998
Customers look for bargains at the Matsuzakaya department store in August 1998
The last day of Daimaru, December 31 1998.
The last day of Daimaru, December 31 1998.
Shoppers scramble for bargains on the last day of sales at the Mitsukoshi store on September 17, 2006
Shoppers scramble for bargains on the last day of sales at the Mitsukoshi store on September 17, 2006