284
Some eighteen months later, my daughter and I happened to be in Fukuoka city, Tenzen district, for the daily opening of the Iwataya department store, one of the leading stores in the city.
We arrived ten minutes before opening time, to find a small crowd of mainly female shoppers. There was also an amiable, middle-aged man in short sleeves and a trilby hat, who spoke with people and kept looking at his watch. When he saw us, he motioned us to sit with him on the steps in front of the entrance.
At about five minutes to ten, a smart girl in a brown and white polka-dot silk dress came to a microphone positioned inside the store and gave a polite little speech of welcome to the customers. The speech had been preceded by a video of Japanese scenery, especially of streams, waterfalls and gardens.
The amiable man became restless. Shortly before ten o'clock, two very trim, tallish girls in beige silk dresses, with tight-fitting Turkish-style matching jackets and round pill-box caps came to the entrance desk just inside the doors. A smartly dressed male manager in dark gray trousers and light blue jacket joined them. One of the girls bent down and opened the doors.
The amiable man went forward immediately, and entered the store. However, it was not quite opening time, lacking a few minutes to the hour. He pointed to his watch when the girl explained that they were not yet open, but withdrew obediently. A minute later he tried again. She was equally charming, but firm, and showed him the door. Once more, he left.
Seconds later, there was a chime of bells, and the doors were ceremoniously opened by the two girls, one standing on each side.
Simultaneously, the video screen changed from its scenery "still" to another welcoming message. It showed, first, a single girl who bowed and spoke polite words of welcome. The screen divided into about twenty squares, each showing the same picture. The single girl was followed by a pair, and then by a three-some. Each set gave the same message and performed the same ceremonial, and each appearance was repeated on the multiple screen. Finally,
284
Some eighteen months later, my daughter and I happened to be in Fukuoka city, Tenzen district, for the daily opening of the Iwataya department store, one of the leading stores in the city.
We arrived ten minutes before opening time, to find a small crowd of mainly female shoppers. There was also an amiable, middle-aged man in short sleeves and a trilby hat, who spoke with people and kept looking at his watch. When he saw us, he mo- tioned us to sit with him on the steps in front of the entrance.
At about five minutes to ten, a smart girl in a brown and white polka-dot silk dress came to a microphone positioned inside the store and gave a polite little speech of welcome to the customers. The speech had been preceded by a video of Japanese scenery, especially of streams, waterfalls and gardens.
The amiable man became restless. Shortly before ten o'clock, two very trim, tallish girls in beige silk dresses, with tight fitting Turkish-style matching jackets and round pill-box caps came to the entrance desk just inside the doors. A smartly dressed male manager in dark gray trousers and light blue jacket joined them. One of the girls bent down and opened the doors.
The amiable man went forward immediately, and entered the store. However, it was not quite opening time, lacking a few min- utes to the hour. He pointed to his watch when the girl explained that they were not yet open, but withdrew obediently. A minute later he tried again. She was equally charming, but firm, and showed him the door. Once more, he left.
Seconds later, there was a chime of bells, and the doors were ceremoniously opened by the two girls, one standing on each side.
Simultaneously, the video screen changed from its scenery "still" to another welcoming message. It showed, first, a single girl who bowed and spoke polite words of welcome. The screen divid- ed into about twenty squares, each showing the same picture. The single girl was followed by a pair, and then by a three-some. Each set gave the same message and performed the same ceremonial, and each appearance was repeated on the multiple screen. Finally,
!
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.