Look for a large building with big, colorful GU and UNIQLO signs above its entrance, tucked beneath the high, curved glass ceiling of the shopping arcade-if you spot a crowd and bright lights, you've found Sun Mall!
Alright, now take a moment to soak in the energy around you-because if these walls could talk, they’d probably gossip about decades of fashion trends and the occasional teenage drama! Sun Mall, right here in the heart of Hiroshima’s Kamiyacho, wasn’t always the bustling hub you see today. Imagine, if you will, the smoky aftermath of World War II in 1948. Hiroshima was rebuilding, and in this very spot, a tiny market called Hirogoku Shoten-gai popped up, bustling with people who’d survived unimaginable times and those returning home. It started as a T-shaped shopping street, which probably made everyone’s shoe shopping routes a bit more confusing.
By the 1970s, the charm of the old market couldn’t keep up with changing tastes and newer buildings nearby. The old shops and theatres-where people once flocked for swordfighting plays, comedy shows, and magic tricks-were falling behind. You might say the neighborhood needed a little retail therapy. So, a bold vision emerged: to create a mega shopping center that could stand its ground against rival department stores. What could go wrong with a plan costing billions of yen? Well, disagreements, of course! Shop owners argued, builders hesitated, and even the city itself stepped in, refusing to hand out permits while everyone bickered. It was almost like a telenovela, just with more business suits.
But in 1972, after much drama, Sun Mall’s current building finally opened its doors. The grand opening was so exciting there was even a parade-just imagine confetti, marching, and the aroma of brand-new fabric and fresh bread wafting through the air. Sun Mall quickly changed the flow of shoppers, stealing the limelight from its more famous neighbor, Hacchobori. For younger generations, it became the “it” place, a badge of coolness-although, to be fair, parents probably came here to secretly grab doughnuts or find sales.
The design was as ambitious as the dream. On grand opening day, you could find a stage with an Electone keyboard for live shows on the first floor, a 400-seat “satellite” studio on the fourth, and, to everyone’s delight (especially donut lovers), Hiroshima’s very first Mister Donut-with a queue of 800 people eager for that sweet, sticky treat! The unstoppable energy made the arcade buzz, three to four times as many people walking by as before.
Now, the years rolled on, and Sun Mall had to keep pace with the ever-picky preferences of shoppers. The 1980s were all neon and leg warmers, right? Well, Sun Mall threw itself a makeover party-in 1986, it reinvented itself as a temple for young people’s fashion, with new stores popping up on every floor and catchphrases like “City Bazaar” echoing through the mall. Uniqlo eventually set up shop on the second floor, and the famous supermarket “Izumi” took over the ground level, ensuring that no one ever had to shop hungry.
This wasn’t just an indoor paradise of bargains and fashion experiments. Sun Mall’s rooftop became home to Japan’s first urban blueberry garden. Imagine: climbing to the roof and plucking a fresh blueberry while gazing at the city-proof that even shopping centers like to try on something new now and again.
Even the mascots here have adventures! Since 2007, Stan and Chibi-Stan have been Sun Mall’s bubbly mascots, with cartoon strip stories and a loyal fanbase cheering them on. Just don’t ask them if they prefer GU or Uniqlo-they’re contractually obligated to remain neutral!
Over seventy years since its humble beginnings, there’s still change in the air: the building’s due for a huge makeover, and one day, Sun Mall will be bigger and bolder than ever. But for now, as you stand here, close your eyes for a second and picture the echoes of tap-dancing feet, gossiping school kids, elderly folks reminiscing, and the occasional off-key Electone performance. That’s the spirit of Sun Mall-part fashion, part history, all Hiroshima! And if you start craving a donut, well, you’re in the right place.
Ready for our next stop? Let’s stroll on to Hiroshima Prefector, where the story continues!
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