Turning Japanese!
Over time, the Japanese and Filipinos have become good friends. Japan is now among the leading foreign investors and providers of development aid to the Philippines. In 2016, East Asia Forum learned that of all Asian countries the Land of the Rising Sun enjoys the most favorable rating among the Filipino public.
A connection by culture and trade between the two Asian nations predates the Spanish era. During the Muromachi period in Japan’s history, Austronesian speakers presumed to be Filipinos served the Imperial Court. They were called the Hayato and Kumaso.
Philippine-Japanese relations continue to prosper, especially with Japanese pop culture becoming more deeply embedded in the lives of Filipinos. Our fascination with the intricacies and beauty of Japanese culture in all its forms from anime to cosplay, art and fashion, even food, is apparent more than ever. Proof of the blossoming friendship is the recent opening of the first Mitsukoshi in the country.
Japanese department store chain operator Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings brings the lifestyle mall to Philippine shores with the help of real estate titans Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. of Japan and Federal Land of the Philippines.
Found at the podium level of The Seasons Residences in Bonifacio Global City, the 28,000-square-meter Mitsukoshi consists of four levels, broken down into a basement and three floors above ground.
Geometric patterns on the façade and a modern take on the traditional Japanese hemp leaf were designed by interdisciplinary artist Asao Tokolo, whose work includes the victory ceremony podiums and emblem of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The leaf represents diverse connections, reflecting the camaraderie between the Philippines and Japan.
By the entrance at the 8th Avenue are the Mitsukoshi Lion, an emblematic statue of the king of beasts seen for the first time outside of Japan, as well as an attention-grabbing monument dubbed “Joining Hands,” another symbol of the Philippine-Japan ties. The former is believed to bring good luck.
At the end of the day, the new mall is expected to contribute to urban development and propose a new lifestyle that merges Filipino and Japanese cultures.
The interior was done by the foremost design company Nomura Co. Ltd, recognized worldwide for experience-driven spaces. Some distinct and traditional Japanese designs are the Tori-nawa, earthen floor passageway connecting the west and east wings of Mitsukoshi, and the Suji or crossroads, the area linking the ground and second floor.
On the ground floor is one of the exclusive titles Mitsukoshi Beauty, offering lifestyle products from Japan. A few of the Japanese brands introduced in the Philippines are the world-renowned liquid soaps and shampoos range E Standard, the natural cosmetics line La Casta, and the environment-friendly care products Waphyto. This section is split into three categories namely natural and organic, functional and convenient, and high-performance items. Partnering with Kiyosa Japanese Total Beauty, the mall has brought in an open salon where mallgoers can get treated with meticulous techniques using featured merchandise.
Mendokoro Ramenba finds a spot on the ground floor as well, with branch-exclusive items and a long ramen bar that snakes through the restaurant. Enjoy handdripped coffee at the 100-year-old Japanese brand Key Coffee, or healthy options at Wildflour, both of which are just some of the well-curated stores now in operation.
In the basement is a depachika, which is how they call an underground market in Japan, sort of like a food hall. Familiar brands here are the Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, serving its no-bake Nama donuts, and the Makati restaurant Ikomai, with its signature chicken wing or Tebasaki, among others.
Mitsukoshi Fresh, an upscale supermarket with imported delicacies and fresh produce, is located in the basement as well. True to its name, frozen fish and sashimi are air-freighted straight from Japan.
A must-visit is the latest Fully Booked in collaboration with Kinokuniya Bookstore. A paradise for otakus, half of the branch is filled with manga, visual novels, and other Japanese reading materials.
While Mitsukoshi is now open to the public, it is still under development. A couple of the soon-to-open shops are the M. Bakery, Beard Papa, Whipped & Swirled, Ikinari Steakhouse, Putien, Sen-Ryo, Ramen Nagi, Coco Ichibanya, and The Bakery, an in-house brand set to serve hundreds of types of high-quality pastries. As of press time, the third floor is still closed.
At the end of the day, the new mall is expected to contribute to urban development and propose a new lifestyle that merges Filipino and Japanese cultures.