Abstract
This paper analyzes Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, the first Japanese department store, from a historical perspective that seeks to explore its transformation as a shopping place for those going to the city. Previous studies have shown that initially when a department store was established it was built to be a pure shopping place and this made it inherently independent from the locality. Later many stores and boutiques including several different department stores gathered in one place to form a district just like a shopping place, Ginza being a notable example. Focusing on Nihombashi Mitsukoshi allows seeing the last stage of development for a department store that can no longer by itself be assumed to be as a consumers' paradise. Instead, it has begun opening its doors to the locality, Nihombashi to make this district a wider paradise for shoppers.
