OSAKA (Kyodo) Hankyu Department Stores Inc. on Wednesday opened a special section for annual "oseibo" yearend gifts, kicking off an aggressive sales campaign ahead of other department stores in the Kansai region.
On the seventh floor of Hankyu's flagship store in the Umeda district, three "maiko" apprentice geisha in kimono handed out paper bags stocked with samples, including an assortment of coffee, raw ham and Japanese-style condiments.
The department store plans to boost the number of gifts on display from about 400 now to 1,000 during the peak gift-giving season, which starts next month.
Among the most popular items are hams or deli foods priced around 3,900, yen according to Hankyu's estimates.
The store, which began this year's yearend sales campaign a day earlier than last year, is eager to capture shoppers early in the season. It is offering a 5 percent discount on liquor and a 15 percent discount on all other items on a list of 750 selected products, if orders are placed before Nov. 10.
Oseibo is a tradition in which gifts are given to relatives and coworkers in recognition of their kindness and services.
