1. What is Sagae Department Store?

Sagae Department Store is located on the second floor of “Flora SAGAE,” a multi-purpose facility in the city center.

It was planned as a hub to revitalize the once bustling city center, a place where many people once came and went.

Sagae Department Store’s concept is “One hundred products, one hundred lessons, one hundred challenges.”

The building features a beautiful square shaped corridor, inspired by the Sagae City Hall designed by the master architect Kisho Kurokawa, with a café at its center.

The design philosophy that permeates the space is “simplicity and repetition.”

The beautifully arranged furniture and the carefully selected hundred items create a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere for visitors.

A place where nostalgic memories of the past blend with a sophisticated, modern space.

It’s a future hub for the city where you can relax and unwind while being exposed to new sensibilities.

2. Facility configuration that integrates four functions

The most distinctive feature of Sagae Department Store is that it combines four different functions—ROOM, STUDIO, CAFE, and OFFICE—into a single space.

Rather than existing in isolation, each element works in conjunction with the others to provide visitors with a diverse range of experiences.

① A ROOM, where 100 items make up the space.

ROOM, which could be considered the face of the facility, is an exhibition and sales space where “100 items” such as art, crafts, clothing, and miscellaneous goods are displayed.

The selection is overseen by Morioka Tokuyuki, the conceptor for Sagae Department Store and owner of Morioka Shoten, a bookstore in Ginza, Tokyo, that sells only one book at a time.

Mr. Morioka, who hails from Sagae City, has selected 100 items that evoke a sense of joy and arranged them in this space.

Photography is prohibited inside the room.

In today’s world, where you can find anything with a simple search, they value the emotions and sensations that naturally arise when you see the real thing in person.

The store also embodies the desire for local children to cherish the genuine emotions that arise from seeing authentic things, and it offers affordable second-hand clothing that reflects the voices of local students.

Explanation sheets for 100 items. It’s recommended to read them after you’ve finished looking at everything.

Except for some non-sale items, the exhibited items are available for purchase.

I, too, found myself completely engrossed in watching it, losing track of time…

② A comfortable STUDIO with a calm and modern atmosphere.

The STUDIO is located in the open, spacious area at the center of the facility.

The sophisticated atmosphere created by the calm and modern interior makes it so comfortable that you’ll want to linger.

It also functions as a co-working space equipped with Wi-Fi and power outlets, allowing you to concentrate on work or reading in a quiet atmosphere while still being aware of the presence of other people.

The sofa, which serves as an accent piece in the space, is made using Gassan Japanese paper, a traditional local craft.

I could sense the subtle attention to detail, incorporating elements that are characteristic of Yamagata.

This STUDIO is not just a place to relax; it also serves as a venue for workshops and events, or as a platform for creators to showcase their work.

The store plans to regularly hold events and workshops featuring various artists in the future.

You can also purchase works by artists who actually participated in the event, as well as original goods from Sagae Department Store.

Encountering these unique, once-in-a-lifetime works of art is one of the joys of visiting Sagae Department Store.

Upcoming events are updated regularly on the official website and social media, so please check them out.

③ CAFE where you can enjoy crepes, galettes, and coffee

At the CAFE in Sagae Department Store, you can enjoy crepes and galettes in addition to the drink menu.

The crepes are made with a blend of domestic wheat flour and whole wheat flour, and are finished without any unnecessary additives, allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through.

They offer several types of crepes, including classic whipped cream crepes and hot crepes.

From left to right: Sugar butter, galette roll, chocolate and cream.

The galette, limited to 20 servings per day, uses 100% domestically produced Dewa Kaori flour for the soba flour.

You can enjoy delicious dishes that are characteristic of Yamagata, the soba kingdom.

Please note that crepe sales are not always available, so please check the official Instagram for opening hours before visiting.

④ OFFICE, a business support space that encourages challenges

OFFICE is the place that will shape the future of Sagae.

This space offers monthly rental spaces for entrepreneurs, as well as various sizes of rental spaces, playing a role in supporting new ventures in the community.

Actually, the flooring in this office is the only thing that remains exactly as it was back when Flora Sagae was built.

While feeling the warmth of history that once saw countless people come and go, we’ll give shape to the inspiration and ideas we gained at ROOM.

This place will surely become a hub where many more interesting things and ideas are born.

In addition to office space, they also have meeting rooms available for use on an hourly basis for business and creative activities, as well as a rental kitchen.

This area is truly exciting to watch, as I’m looking forward to seeing what new things will emerge from here and what developments will unfold in the future.

3. Encounters and stories that begin at Sagae Department Store

According to Sagae Department Store, the most important thing for its continued success is “people.”

You encounter the products, experience the space, and before you know it, you’re having a lively conversation with the person next to you.

It is through the accumulation of such casual interactions that the power of people, and the power of this place, are greatly strengthened.

The connections forged there lead to even more connections, and interesting ideas and new challenges that wouldn’t have been born on their own begin to take shape from this point.

Sagae Department Store aims to create such a warm and virtuous cycle.

Just as Flora SAGAE, which once stood in this location, was bustling with people, we too want Sagae Department Store to be a place where something new in the community begins.

The phrase “One hundred products, one hundred lessons, one hundred challenges” will surely lead to countless encounters and stories in the future.

4. A message from Sagae Department Store

For those of you reading VISIT YAMAGATA, we have a message from Mr. Kagami, Representative Director of the Nagaokayama Conference, a general incorporated association.

“I want to cherish above all else the connections between people that are born at Sagae Department Store.

I want this to be a place where people can become interested in the works of the artists who come here, and where they can make new discoveries every time they visit. I want it to be a place where people can meet interesting people in that way. My ideal is a space where people can relax, become friends without even realizing it, and where connections between people and new ideas are born naturally.

Please come and experience the true charm and the pleasant atmosphere that can’t be conveyed through a screen.”