The mammoth outlet opened by Yodobashi Camera Co. in Tokyo's Akihabara district in mid-September appears to have become a catalyst for change in an area renowned for its cut-throat retail electronics competition.
Yodobashi Camera Akiba, one of the largest household electronics appliance stores in Japan, features a broad range of gadgets, a toy section and a restaurant.
"We want to contribute to the reinvigoration of the Akihabara market by wooing families back" to the district, said Yodobashi Camera President Terukazu Fujisawa in explaining the company's investment.