View of the Mitsui Stores at Surugachö in Edo

Catalog note / 解説

The Surugachö district of Edo was located just north of Nihonbashi Bridge in the area now called Muromachi 3-chome. Among the larger stores was the Echigoya Mitsui Clothing Store, today known as Mitsukoshi, Japan’s largest modern department store. The store became very successful after adopting a new business practice, payment in cash at time of sale, instead of accruing charges to customers’ accounts. By eliminating the traditional practice of billing customers only once or twice a year, the store was able to sell goods at reduced princes. The Surugachö district was a famous spot for seeing Mount Fuji clearly, especially on a chilly winter day. In this print, the street is flanked with two…