ABSTRACT
The original Mitsukoshi Department Store in Tokyo was modeled after Selfridge’s Department Store in London, except that it was constructed of white bricks, instead of granite. Two bronze lions, similar to those at the base of Admiral Horatio Nelson’s pillar in London, guarded its main entrance. The floors were covered with straw matting, and Japanese shoppers were required to remove their shoes before they could enter. Western tourists were issued cloth covers to put over their shoes. The building boasted all the modern conveniences, including central heating, a sprinkler system, and elevators. A roof garden was open from June through September, and a band played daily.
