Throughout Japan’s four seasons, and for 350 years now, Mitsukoshi has been the constant companion of Japanese consumers. Filipinos can now experience shopping in luxury, the Japanese way, with Mitsukoshi BGC’S recent opening.
Mitsukoshi BGC held a month-long celebration this July to mark its grand opening. The event was inspired by Matsuri, a traditional festival that gives thanks to ancient Japanese deities through dances, shows, parades, food and drinks. Local Mitsukoshi shoppers experienced the traditional Matsuri during the last two weeks of July without having to leave the country.
The grand affair started on the 21st with a formal inauguration led by Federal Land Inc. chairman Alfred Ty, Nomura Real Estate Holdings (NRE) chairman Eiji Kutsukake, and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. director, president and CEO Toshiyuki Hosoya. Organizers invited Vice President Sara Duterte and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa as the event’s guests of honor.
Doing the ceremonial toast and ribbon-cutting are Federal Land executives and partners: (From left) Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano; Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano; Alfred V. Ty, chairman of Federal Land, Inc.; Vice President Sara Duterte; Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa; Toshiyuki Hosoya, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings president and CEO; and Eiji Kutsukake, Nomura Real Estate Holdings chairman.
“The successful launch of the four towers of The Seasons Residences, along with the grand opening of Mitsukoshi BGC, is the fulfillment of imagination and possibilities. It is a culmination of a journey and also the beginning of more exciting innovation and offerings in the country’s first Mitsukoshi branch,” Ty shared.
Kutsukake added: “When we expanded our business overseas in 2017, we started with the vision of bringing a piece of Japan to the Philippines. Our partnership with Federal Land allowed us to realize this vision and grow it even further. To our joy, we witnessed the success of Mitsukoshi BGC as a Japanese mall loved by the community. We hope that this affinity continues to grow as we strive to contribute more and more to the development of BGC and the Philippines.”
(From left) Ty, Hosoya, Vice President Duterte; Cherry Tan-Ty; and Betty Lu
This year, Mitsukoshi commemorates 350 years of continued service. Its iconic name has become ingrained in the very fiber of Japanese culture, symbolizing the perfect balance of tradition and innovation.
It began in 1673 as a kimono store dubbed “Echigoya” in Nihombashi, Japan. Today, it is operating globally with stores outside Japan, including Taiwan, North America and the Philippines.
As the country’s first Japanese shopping mall, Mitsukoshi BGC shares the very best of Japanese lifestyle to the Philippines with a grand festival featuring food, fashion, music, the arts and various cultural hallmarks Filipinos love about Japan.
In time for the grand opening, two of Japan’s beloved fashion labels are now debuting in the country at Mitsukoshi BGC. Snidel and Fray I.D offer fashionistas and career women sophisticated outfits with a Japanese flair. The two brands are known to bridge modernism, functionality and art with their concept and design.
(From left) Francisco Sebastian, GT Capital Holdings chairman; Mayor Cayetano; Kutsukake; Sen. Caytetano; and Ty
Beauty enthusiasts can flock to Shiseido, Kanebo, or Mitsukoshi Beauty to restock on their cosmetics and luxury Japanese beauty brands. Brands like Waphyto, E Standard and La Casta are also making their debut in the country at Mitsukoshi Beauty. Guests can also stop by Kiyosa Japanese Total Beauty, a nail-lash-and-hair salon popular among celebrities and Manila’s elite.
Foodies can travel to Japan gastronomically at Key Coffee, which offers beverages from one of Japan’s oldest roasters. As a kissaten, it combines a jazz speakeasy and coffee shop.
Matcha lovers can drop by The Matcha Tokyo, a Japanese café that specializes in beverages using 100 percent organic matcha.
Patrons can also visit the basement where the depachika, food markets traditionally found in Japanese department stores, are located. For authentic Japanese goods and hard-to-find delicacies like frozen fish and sashimi air-freighted from Japan, guests can stop by Mitsukoshi Fresh. Travelers who miss Japanese pastries and delicious ready-to-eat rice meals often found at Japanese convenience stores can relive the experience by shopping there as well.
There’s also a place for Japanese arts and literature. Kinokuniya Bookstore x Fully Booked offers Filipinos opportunities to explore this aspect of Japanese life. In fact, half of its shelves are dedicated to Japanese books and manga written both Japanese and English.
