Synopsis

In June, a Nagoya institution, a department store cherished by generations of locals, shuttered after seventy-five years. Once the largest in western Japan by sales floor space, it had struggled since the collapse of the bubble economy. Regulars mourned the loss of a familiar landmark. Employees faced an uncertain future, their emotions a complex blend of sadness and apprehension. To many customers, the store was synonymous with warmth and dependability; for the city's residents, it was simply "