For bank analyst Mac Salman, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi flagship branch in Tokyo is so majestic that he brings friends and family there when they visit Japan.
First, there's the brightly lit paneled ceiling, the plush peach carpet and marble counter staffed by row after row of polite, uniformed tellers unencumbered by bulletproof glass to block cheerful interactions with customers. Then there's the crew of ushers who patrol the floor, ready to guide every customer with an eager "May I help you?"
"It's like something out of a Bond movie," said Salman, head of research on Japanese financial firms at Jefferies Group in Tokyo. "You certainly feel very looked-after when you go to do even the simplest of transactions."