Seibu department workers strike

Seibu department workers strike

A pedestrian passes by the shuttered flagship Seibu department store in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area on Aug. 31, 2023, amid a labor strike against parent Seven & i Holdings Co.'s planned sale of the 10-store Sogo & Seibu chain to a U.S.-based investment fund.

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

Sogo & Seibu labor union chief Yasuhiro Teraoka (C) is surrounded by reporters during a union rally in Tokyo's Toshima Ward on Aug. 31, 2023. Workers at the Seibu Ikebukuro department store went on strike the same day protesting a planned sale of their company, a first for a Japanese department store in around 60 years.

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

Striking workers represented by a labor union at Japanese department store operator Sogo & Seibu Co. march in the streets of Tokyo's Toshima Ward on Aug. 31, 2023. Store workers are opposing plans by parent Seven & i Holdings Co. to sell the 10-store chain to a U.S.-based investment fund.

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

People supporting a strike called by a union representing workers at Sogo & Seibu Co. hold banners in front of the department store operator's flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2023.

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

Seibu Ikebukuro workers strike

Photo taken on Aug. 31, 2023, shows the Seibu Ikebukuro department store in Tokyo's Toshima Ward. Store workers staged a strike the same day, opposing plans by parent Seven & i Holdings Co. to sell the 10-store Sogo & Seibu chain to a U.S.-based investment fund.

Seibu Ikebukuro department store

Seibu Ikebukuro department store

Photo taken on Aug. 30, 2023, shows the Seibu Ikebukuro department store in Tokyo. A labor union representing workers at Japanese department stores operated by Sogo & Seibu Co. said the same day that members would go on strike at the store to protest a buyout deal by a U.S.-based investment fund.

Seibu Ikebukuro department store

Seibu Ikebukuro department store

Photo taken on Aug. 30, 2023, shows the Seibu Ikebukuro department store in Tokyo. A labor union representing workers at Japanese department stores operated by Sogo & Seibu Co. said the same day that members would go on strike at the store to protest a buyout deal by a U.S.-based investment fund.

New Tiffany branch in Kobe

New Tiffany branch in Kobe

KOBE, Japan - Actress Saki Aibu appears at a ceremony to mark the opening of a new branch of U.S. luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. at the Sogo Department Store in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on March 10, 2014, wearing some of its jewelry priced at about 530 million yen in total.

New Tiffany branch in Kobe

New Tiffany branch in Kobe

KOBE, Japan - Actress Saki Aibu appears at a ceremony to mark the opening of a new branch of U.S. luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. at the Sogo Department Store in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on March 10, 2014, wearing some of its jewelry priced at about 530 million yen in total.

Sogo & Seibu launches new brand for people in 50s

Sogo & Seibu launches new brand for people in 50s

TOKYO, Japan - Models wear clothes of Sogo & Seibu Co.'s new fashion brand targeting men and women in their 50s at the Seibu Ikebukuro department store in Tokyo on Jan. 28, 2014. "Limited Edition Avec Mode" shops will open at Seibu Ikebukuro on Feb. 19 and in early March elsewhere.

Sogo flagship store in Osaka to be sold to J. Front

Sogo flagship store in Osaka to be sold to J. Front

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows Daimaru department store (front) and Sogo department store (in back) in Osaka's Chuo Ward. Seven & I Holdings Co. said Feb. 26 that it will sell the Osaka flagship store of its group department store operator Sogo Co. to Daimaru Inc., a unit of J. Front Retailing Co., for 37.91 billion yen.

Shoppers hunt for lucky bags as dept. stores begin New Year sales

Shoppers hunt for lucky bags as dept. stores begin New Year sales

People shop for "lucky bags" filled with discount goods and New Year bargains at the flagship department store of Sogo & Seibu Co. in central Tokyo's Ikebukuro district on Jan. 1, 2016. Major Japanese department stores and supermarkets started their business for 2016 that day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shoppers hunt for lucky bags as dept. stores begin New Year sales

Shoppers hunt for lucky bags as dept. stores begin New Year sales

People shop for "lucky bags" filled with discount goods and New Year bargains at the flagship department store of Sogo & Seibu Co. in central Tokyo's Ikebukuro district on Jan. 1, 2016. Major Japanese department stores and supermarkets started their business for 2016 that day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sogo & Seibu unveils localized house-brand items for regional stores

Sogo & Seibu unveils localized house-brand items for regional stores

Sogo & Seibu Co. unveils in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2015, a series of private-label products localized for its respective regional stores for sale from early March, including accessories made with local specialty materials and women's clothing such as the dress shown in this photo, for each shop's specific clientele. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japanese entrepreneur selling bags handmade by Ugandan women

Japanese entrepreneur selling bags handmade by Ugandan women

Chizu Nakamoto, 33, a Japanese entrepreneur who sells African-print bags handmade by Ugandan women shows a product of her Ricci Everyday brand at a pop-up shop in a Sogo & Seibu Co. department store in Omiya Ward in the city of Saitama, north of Tokyo, on April 15, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Seven & i introduces automatic measurement device

Seven & i introduces automatic measurement device

Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2015, shows an automatic measurement device that allows customers to find their clothes size without trying them on at the Sogo department store in Yokohama. Seven & i Holding Co. introduced the device at some of its stores for a limited period of time. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sogo department in Tokushima, western Japan

Sogo department in Tokushima, western Japan

Photo taken Aug. 27, 2020, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Sogo department store in Tokushima, western Japan. Its parent company Seven & i Holdings Co. closed on Aug. 31 four Seibu and Sogo department stores, including the Tokushima store, as part of the group's restructuring plans.

Sogo department in Kobe, western Japan

Sogo department in Kobe, western Japan

Photo taken Aug. 27, 2020, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Sogo department store in Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan. Its parent company Seven & i Holdings Co. closed on Aug. 31 four Seibu and Sogo department stores, including the Kobe store, as part of the group's restructuring plans.

Seibu department in Otsu, western Japan

Seibu department in Otsu, western Japan

Photo taken Aug. 27, 2020, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Seibu department store in Otsu in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. Its parent company Seven & i Holdings Co. closed on Aug. 31 four Seibu and Sogo department stores, including the Otsu store, as part of the group's restructuring plans.

Dept. store develops VR system for customer service training

Dept. store develops VR system for customer service training

A man experiences a virtual reality system in Tokyo on Dec. 13, 2018, developed by department store chain Sogo & Seibu Co. to be used for customer service training. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo