Matsuzakaya Nagoya Store Presents 'Matsuzakaya and the Three Heroes' Special Exhibition

Matsuzakaya Nagoya Store is pleased to announce the special exhibition 'Matsuzakaya and the Three Heroes' at the Matsuzakaya History Museum (7th Floor, South Building). Admission is free.

Matsuzakaya’s history is the oldest among modern department stores, dating back to 1611. It began when Sukemichi Ito, the founder of the Ito family, opened a textile and sundries wholesaler named 'Ito-ya' in Honmachi, Nagoya. Sukemichi was originally a samurai serving Oda Nobunaga, but he abandoned his samurai status after Nobunaga’s death in the Honno-ji Incident of 1582. Following the 'Kiyosu-goshi' resettlement ordered by Tokugawa Ieyasu, he moved to the Nagoya castle town and became a merchant. However, during the Siege of Osaka in 1615, he took up arms once more to support Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Under the second generation, Yuki Ito, the business thrived and was eventually appointed as 'Sanke-shu,' the highest rank of merchant serving the Owari Clan. The business continued to expand, opening stores in Kyoto, Edo (Tokyo), and Osaka from the Edo to Meiji periods.

This exhibition features precious period costumes from Matsuzakaya's collection alongside historical episodes involving the three local heroes: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

[Oda Nobunaga] Sukemichi Ito, the founder of the Ito family, was a retainer of Oda Nobunaga. He served as a page and was even granted the name 'Ranmaru' by Nobunaga. After the Honno-ji Incident, he briefly retreated to Mino before settling in Nagoya to start the business that would become Matsuzakaya.

[Toyotomi Hideyoshi] After Hideyoshi’s death, Japan returned to a state of war. During the Siege of Osaka in 1615, Sukemichi entrusted the shop to his family and joined the forces of Hideyoshi’s son, Hideyori, at Osaka Castle.

[Tokugawa Ieyasu] Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the 'Kiyosu-goshi' resettlement as he built Nagoya Castle. Sukemichi followed this order, moving to Nagoya and opening Ito-ya in 1611. The business eventually became a crucial financial supporter of the Owari Clan, reaching the highest merchant status by 1805.