On April 2, 2024, it was announced that AEON Hokkaido would acquire the nine stores in Hokkaido operated by the supermarket chain Seiyu. All nine of Seiyu's currently operating stores are located in Sapporo. In the past, Seiyu also had stores in Iwamizawa and Takikawa, and has long been a beloved part of the community for local residents. Let's trace the journey of Seiyu from its arrival in Hokkaido to the present day.

Arriving in Hokkaido Around the Time of the Sapporo Olympics

Seiyu Asahigaoka Store

Seiyu was founded in 1963. The name "Seiyu" comes from "Seibu no Tomo" (Friends of Seibu), as it was originally part of the former Seibu Group, with Seibu Department Stores as its parent company. Its first store in Hokkaido was the Tsukisamu store, which opened in 1973. At the time, Sapporo had just hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, a period of significant urbanization for the city that saw the entry of major department stores and supermarkets. Seiyu continued to open stores in Hokkaido, reaching a peak of 11 locations. Currently, nine stores remain in operation within Sapporo.

MUJI: Once Seiyu's Private Brand

Seiyu Miyanosawa Store

In 1979, Seiyu was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Around the same time, in 1980, it launched what is now the beloved brand "Mujirushi Ryohin," or MUJI, as its private label. MUJI was synonymous with Seiyu until the sales rights were transferred to Ryohin Keikaku in 1990. In 2000, Seiyu pioneered Japan's first online supermarket business, leading the industry into an era of internet shopping.