Crowds pack department stores on 1st business day

Department stores across Japan are crowded with bargain hunters on Saturday, their first day of business in the new year.

Many bargain shoppers are after "lucky bags", which are sealed so that their contents remain unknown to buyers. The value of the contents typically far exceeds the listed price.

About 8,000 people lined up in front of a long-established department store in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district ahead of its opening at 10 AM. The department store had stocked 50-thousand lucky bags. They included traditional bags containing ladies' garments or daily necessities, and this year, more bags with food items for home cooking. The store's move is in response to the recent consumer trend of refraining from dining out to save money.

Consumer spending remained sluggish in 2009 due to the economic downturn and deflation. Last year's sales at department stores nationwide are estimated to fall below 7 trillion yen, or around 75 billion dollars, for the first time in 24 years. The operators are under pressure to take steps, including shutting down unprofitable outlets and trimming the workforce.