Daimaru Shinsaibashi marks 300 years with month-long events

Daimaru Shinsaibashi, a department store in Osaka, began its 300th-anniversary events on Oct.

31.

The store reaches 300 years on Nov.

1, having opened in 1726 as a kimono shop called Matsuyaro.

The celebration, called “300 Festival,” includes an original carousel inspired by a store sculpture of the hare and tortoise from Aesop’s fable.

Visitors can sit on the figures as the ride turns for about a minute and a half.

The store is also selling anniversary-limited products, including a set of three bottles of sweet-potato shochu from Kagoshima.

An ukiyo-e print display is another part of the program, which also plans to share memories of the store and surrounding area on the radio.

The events run through Nov.

26.