Ichimaru, Japan's 373-year-old department store, went bankrupt in 2025

Ichimaru Plus, operator of the historic Ichimaru department store in Oita City, ceased business on September 1, 2025 and entered self-bankruptcy proceedings. The Oita District Court opened bankruptcy proceedings on October 21, 2025. The business traced its roots to a 1652 kimono shop that became Kyushu's first Western-style department store in 1934.

The store was a landmark in Oita's Takecho shopping arcade, serving generations of local customers. It operated two locations in its final years: the main Ichimaru Plus store and Mode Square Ichimaru. But the traditional department store model had been under pressure for decades.

Large shopping malls built on Oita's outskirts drew foot traffic away from the city-centre arcade. Online retail captured the younger demographic. Oita's declining and aging population — like most of regional Japan — meant fewer shoppers and a shrinking customer base each year.

Ichimaru's closure marked the end of a 373-year commercial legacy. It was one of the oldest continuously operating retail businesses in Japan, and its bankruptcy became a symbol of the decline of regional department stores in an era of population decline and e-commerce.