Izutsuya
Izutsuya is a 90-year-old Japanese regional department store chain operating the only department store in Kitakyushu City, with two flagship stores and 20+ satellite shops across Fukuoka, Oita, and Yamaguchi, serving local consumers through retail, e-commerce, gift cards, and memorial services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersKokura, Japan
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Izutsuya does
Izutsuya Co., Ltd. (株式会社 井筒屋) is a regional Japanese department store chain founded in 1935 and headquartered at 1-1 Senba-machi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 8260, employs between 501 and 1,000 people, and operates the only department store in Kitakyushu City alongside a second main store in Yamaguchi City and more than 20 satellite shops across Fukuoka, Oita, and Yamaguchi prefectures, including a North Kyushu Airport location. The company generates revenue through traditional point-of-sale department store retail across fashion, cosmetics, home goods, food, and specialty categories, supplemented by an owned e-commerce site (izutsuya-online.co.jp), official mobile applications, and physical distribution. Its core technology stack is conventional department store retail with modern digital integration (app, e-commerce, QR payments), with a single exploratory computer-vision application using 3D Gaussian Splatting to create digital archives of cultural artifacts exhibited at the Kokura store.
Izutsuya firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Izutsuya
- Legal name
- 株式会社 井筒屋
- Website
- https://izutsuya.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Izutsuya is a 90-year-old Japanese regional department store chain operating the only department store in Kitakyushu City, with two flagship stores and 20+ satellite shops across Fukuoka, Oita, and Yamaguchi, serving local consumers through retail, e-commerce, gift cards, and memorial services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Izutsuya industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Department Store Retail
- NAICS
- All Other Miscellaneous Retailers (45999)
- SIC
- Retail-Department Stores (5311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional Traditional Department Stores (CRAGAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Traditional Variety Stores (General Variety & Five-and-Dime) (CRAEAGAA)
Keywords
Where Izutsuya is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kokura
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices6 records
Markets served
Izutsuya business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail merchandise sales: Traditional department store retail sales across multiple categories including fashion, cosmetics, home goods, food, and specialty items. Revenue generated through physical store point-of-sale transactions.
- Online shopping: E-commerce platform for online merchandise sales with delivery services throughout Japan
- Gift cards: Sale of prepaid gift cards in denominations from 500 to 100,000 yen, reloadable and usable across all Izutsuya Group stores
- Loyalty program (友の会): Installment savings program where members make regular deposits and receive benefits and points on purchases
- Memorial and funeral services: Comprehensive memorial services including condolence gift catalogs, Buddhist altar referrals, tombstone services, and consultation services
- Ancillary services: Catering services, house cleaning, home renovation, and other lifestyle services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Card - Basic Type |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Department Store Gift Card (nationwide) |
| Subscription | Monthly | 友の会 (Tomonokai) - Installment savings program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Izutsuya product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Izutsuya operates traditional Japanese department stores selling fashion, cosmetics, home goods, food, and specialty items across flagship locations in Kokura (Kitakyushu) and Yamaguchi, supported by 20+ satellite shops. The core retail offering is augmented by an online shopping platform, gift cards, loyalty/savings programs, bridal jewelry counters, memorial services, catering, and home cleaning/reform services. It also runs cultural programming including exhibitions and local craft initiatives such as Kitakyu Columbus.
Product overview
Izutsuya is a traditional Japanese department store chain operating primarily in the Kitakyushu and Yamaguchi regions. The company offers a diverse portfolio of retail products and services organized around its core department store operations, supplemented by complementary service businesses including memorial services (お香典返し, MUSUBI), home services (cleaning, reform), catering, financial services (gift cards, membership cards), and e-commerce. The retail experience is enhanced by specialty zones like Kitakyu Columbus, which features local regional products and crafts. The company also maintains membership programs including the Friend's Association (友の会) installment savings and With Card point system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- きたきゅうコロンブス (Kitakyu Columbus): A shop within the Kokura store dedicated to promoting local Kitakyushu region products, crafts, and regional charm featuring local artisans and traditional crafts.
- サステナベース (Sustaina Base)
- MUSUBI (結び)
Products and services
- Kokura Main Department Store (小倉店)
Companies that use Izutsuya
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Izutsuya technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature1 record
Izutsuya partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (日本航空株式会社)coreCollaboration on the 'すてる油で空を飛ぼう' (Fly with Used Oil) project to collect household cooking oil for conversion to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Izutsuya serves as a collection point at its Kokura store, contributing to aviation decarbonization and sustainable society goals. Participation fee is 220 yen (tax included) with participants receiving a collection bottle and JAL original sticker.
- Bookoff Corporation (ブックオフコーポレーション株式会社)minorPre/post estate liquidation and purchase consultation services held at MUSUBI service counter. Bookoff conducts appraisals and purchases items including bags, wallets, watches, jewelry, and precious metals.
- Kishikawa Shoji (岸川商事)minorProfessional estate liquidation and organization consulting services. Experienced staff in elderly welfare provide consultation services at MUSUBI counter.
- Eto Yonezawa (ヨネザワ)minorEyewear and hearing aid salon operating within Yamaguchi store.
- JTB (井筒屋旅行センター)minorTravel center operating within Kokura store, providing travel agency services to department store customers.
- Tax Accountant Corporation AIU Consulting (税理士法人アイユーコンサルティング)minorInheritance tax consultation services provided during MUSUBI seminars. Specialists with extensive inheritance tax filing experience provide advice on estate division and生前対策 (advance planning).
- Emblem Shrine Watakuri (和布刈神社)minorMarine scattering (海洋散骨) consultation services for memorial arrangements. The shrine conducts ocean memorial ceremonies for those who wish to return to the sea.
- Personal stylist Kaori (パーソナルスタイリングサービス 薫:KaoRi)minorPersonal styling service offering total coordination advice and fitting consultations. Available by reservation for 2.5-hour sessions at Kokura store.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Izutsuya competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Takashimaya Co., Ltd. One of Japanʼs largest department store operators with a multi-category department store format (apparel, cosmetics, home, food, gifts) and established food halls. Directly comparable to Izutsuya on format, customer mix and loyalty/gift card programs, but at materially larger scale including the Nihonbashi flagship.
- H2O Retailing Corporation: Operator of Hankyu and Hanshin department stores in the Kansai region. Traditional department store format with similar customer demographics, gift and seasonal merchandising, but with more urban concentration.
- J. Front Retailing: Owns Daimaru and Matsuzakaya department stores under the same multi-category traditional department store model as Izutsuya, with strong gift card, loyalty and food hall programs. Directly comparable on scale-relevant retail operations across Japan.
- Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings: The largest Japanese department store group operating Isetan and Mitsukoshi. Same traditional department store format, similar mid/high-end gift and bridal offerings, and similarly exposed to domestic demographic decline.
- Tokyu Department Store Co., Ltd. Tokyo and Shibuya-based department store. Same traditional department store format, customer segments (gifting, bridal, food), and exposure to inbound tourism. Comparable merchandising strategy but in larger metropolitan catchments.
- Marui Group Co., Ltd. Japanese department store and credit/fintech hybrid. Comparable on retail-customer overlap, loyalty card mechanic (Epos card parallels With Card) and merchandise/gift mix.
- Kintetsu Department Store Co., Ltd. Regional department store operator in the Kansai/mid-Japan region with the same multi-floor traditional department store format, gift catalogs and food hall emphasis. Smaller scale akin to Izutsuya but stronger urban catchments.
Broad incumbents
- PARCO Co., Ltd. A J. Front Retailing subsidiary operating urban lifestyle-focused shopping complexes. While Izutsuya is a classical department store, PARCO represents the contemporary retail experience facing the same Japanese consumer wallet share.
- AEON Co., Ltd. Japan's largest general retailer with supermarkets, malls and discount formats. Competes for the same consumer basket (apparel, home, food, gifts) under general retail rather than department store specialty, demonstrating the substitution risk Izutsuya faces.
- Don Quijote (Pan Pacific International Holdings): Major Japanese discount variety retailer attracting middle-income spending away from traditional department stores. Comparable breadth of merchandise and overlap on consumer demand for variety/value retail, though positioned at the opposite end of price/discovery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Izutsuya social profiles
Digital presenceIzutsuya financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Izutsuya leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Izutsuya subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Izutsuya funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Izutsuya M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Izutsuya
What does Izutsuya do?
Izutsuya operates traditional Japanese department stores selling fashion, cosmetics, home goods, food, and specialty items across flagship locations in Kokura (Kitakyushu) and Yamaguchi, supported by 20+ satellite shops. The core retail offering is augmented by an online shopping platform, gift cards, loyalty/savings programs, bridal jewelry counters, memorial services, catering, and home cleaning/reform services. It also runs cultural programming including exhibitions and local craft initiatives such as Kitakyu Columbus.
Is Izutsuya a public or private company?
Izutsuya is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Izutsuya founded?
Izutsuya was founded in 1935. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Izutsuya based?
Izutsuya is headquartered in Kokura, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Izutsuya make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Retail merchandise sales are the primary driver. The others are online shopping, gift cards, loyalty program (友の会), memorial and funeral services and ancillary services.
Who are Izutsuya's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Takashimaya Co., Ltd., H2O Retailing Corporation, J. Front Retailing, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, Tokyu Department Store Co., Ltd., Marui Group Co., Ltd. and Kintetsu Department Store Co., Ltd.. Broad incumbents are PARCO Co., Ltd., AEON Co., Ltd. and Don Quijote (Pan Pacific International Holdings).
Does Izutsuya have an API?
No public API is recorded for Izutsuya.
What industry is Izutsuya in?
Izutsuya's product category is Department Store Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAGAAAD, Regional Traditional Department Stores, with a secondary code of CRAEAGAA, Traditional Variety Stores (General Variety & Five-and-Dime). Its NAICS code is 45999 and its SIC code is 5311.