Bargain hunters, history buffs gather around. We are standing before Matsuya Ginza. This isn’t just any department store. It’s a landmark with roots stretching back to the Meiji Restoration.
Matsuya’s story began in 1869 in Yokohama. It started as Tsuruya, selling cotton for kimonos. Imagine bolts of colorful fabric transforming into elegant garments. In 1889, Tsuruya acquired another kimono fabric store. That store was Imagawa Matsuya from Tokyo. Imagawa Matsuya had a historic lineage. So Tsuruya adopted its name.
Fast forward to 1925. Matsuya Ginza opened as a modern department store. Its Ginza location became the company’s headquarters. Matsuya embraced a trend-setting marketing strategy. Matsuya promoted the Ginza name. This helped Ginza become the center of fashion. Matsuya even bought copies of hit records. They distributed them to local tea houses and bars. Employees rewarded the establishments. They rewarded them if the records played during random visits.
In 1927, Matsuya Ginza extended an invitation to American dolls. More than 12000 blue-eyed dolls accepted. It took several steamship crossings to collect them all. Each doll carried a passport signed by the Japanese Consul-General in New York. They also had a tiny ticket to Japan. The dolls carried messages from American children. Over 2000 children attended the reception ceremony. Even more children overflowed onto the wharf. The festival symbolized friendship between America and Japan.
The US Ambassador to Japan, Charles MacVeagh, spoke at the time. He hoped the dolls would forge a chain of understanding. He hoped that friendship between America and Japan would never be broken. Sadly, war broke out in 1941.
During the war, Matsuya Ginza suffered heavy damage from firebombing. But it was quickly repaired. After the war, it became a Post Exchange for Allied troops. Later, it transformed into one of Tokyo’s most glamorous department stores.
In the 1960s, Matsuya Ginza hosted well-regarded art exhibitions. One was called “From Space to Environment”. Another was “Good Design”. In 1971, Matsuya partnered with Isetan. But the firms grew apart. In 2002, Matsuya purchased Isetan stock. In 2007 Isetan agreed to merge with Matsuya’s rival Mitsukoshi.
In 2019, Matsuya celebrated the new imperial era name, Rei-wa. They provided special treatment to customers. These customers had names containing either of the Chinese characters rei or wa.
Today, Matsuya Ginza stands as a testament to resilience and innovation. It is a place where fashion, art, and history intertwine. As you explore its many floors remember its journey. From a humble cotton shop to a Ginza icon. Matsuya Ginza continues to shape Tokyo’s cultural landscape.