Kikumoto Department Store

Kikumoto Department Store (菊元百貨店) was Taiwan's first modern department store, established during the Japanese colonial period in the heart of Taipei's most prestigious commercial district. Founded by Eiji Shigeta (重田栄治), a businessman originally from Yamaguchi Prefecture, the store opened on December 3, 1932, in Sakaechō (榮町), at what is now the corner of Hengyang Road and Boai Road, in Taihoku (台北).

Architecture and Innovation

The building rose seven stories (six floors plus a rooftop level), earning the popular nickname 'Seven-Storied Sky' (七重天). At the time of its completion, it was the second tallest building in all of Taiwan, surpassed only by the imposing Taiwan Governor-General's Office (now the Presidential Office Building). The store introduced several firsts to Taiwan: the first commercial passenger elevator — operated by uniformed female attendants — a rooftop observation deck offering panoramic views of the Taipei basin, and modern display windows showcasing the latest merchandise.

Competition with Hayashi Department Store

Kikumoto's opening sparked a celebrated rivalry with Hayashi Department Store (林百貨) in Tainan, which opened on December 5, 1932, just two days later. The question of which store truly opened first became a matter of local pride between Taipei and Tainan. Kikumoto held its completion ceremony for about 180 invited officials and dignitaries on November 28, 1932, before opening for business on December 3. Together with Yoshii Department Store (吉井百貨) in Takao (Kaohsiung), these three establishments represented the pinnacle of modern commercial culture in colonial Taiwan.

Wartime and Colonial Context

During the war years, the store witnessed increasing militarization of daily life. Historical photographs show senninbari (千人針, thousand-stitch belts) — talismans believed to protect soldiers — being sewn on the store's veranda by groups of women, and Kigensetsu (紀元節, National Foundation Day) celebrations with crowds gathering outside the store in February 1942. The building survived the Allied air raids of 1945 that damaged much of Taipei.

Postwar Transformations

After Japan's surrender in August 1945, the Shigeta family's property was confiscated and Shin Tai Department Store (新台百貨) opened in the building on October 24, 1945. The building was taken over by the Republic of China government in 1948 and run as Taiwan Chung Hua Department Store (台灣中華國貨公司); the site passed to the owner of Nanyang Department Store (南洋百貨公司) in 1968 and became Yangyang Department Store (洋洋百貨公司) in 1977. The Yangyang Department Store went bankrupt in 1979, ending the building's commercial retail history.

Current Status

The building at 148-150 Boai Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei survives today as the Cathay Financial Tower, housing the Taipei Branch of Cathay United Bank. While the structure remains standing, successive renovations have significantly altered its appearance — the original Art Deco façade is now concealed behind modern glass curtain walls. In 2017, the Taipei City Government's Department of Cultural Affairs designated the building as a historic structure. A major restoration project was launched on July 26, 2024, aimed at uncovering and preserving the building's original colonial-era architectural features. On the same day an exhibition titled 'Guarding Jōnai, Recreating Kikumoto' (守護城中、再現菊元) opened on the building's second floor, running until January 5, 2025, to commemorate the store's cultural legacy.