Regarded as one of the iconic merchant stores in prewar Davao, Osaka Bazar, which had its main office in Echague, Santa Cruz, Manila, was not just a commodity depot; it introduced numerous articles of trade, chiefly Japanese brands, that have become part of Davao’s history.
Published accounts consider the bazaar as the forerunner of present-day malls in the city given the array of products displayed inside the store.
Apart from the finest Japanese silk, linen, wool and cotton kimonos that carried bird, butterfly, dragon and flower designs, it also sold Satsuma vases, wares and tea sets imported directly from Japan. It was, at the time, the largest Japanese store anywhere in the islands.
Known only to a few frothy beverage connoisseurs, trading house Osaka Bazar, renamed in January as Osaka Boeki Kaisha Ltd., with main officer at 332-346 Echague, Santa Cruz, Manila, was the first to import the Japanese beer brands Asahi (launched in 1892) and Sakura.
The credit of introducing imported beer to the country belongs to the Americans. As of 1901, bottled beer from the United States already amounted to $619,825, roughly P18 billion in today’s currency. At the time the only brewery operating with a Spanish franchise was San Miguel Brewery (SMB), established in 1890.
Over the years, American beer supply drastically declined partly due to the competition SMB posed and the import of German malt which made the local beer better in taste and in price. Another factor was the return of American servicemen after the burden to address the insurgency in the country was passed to Filipino law enforcers.
In Harold M. Pitt’s ‘Reciprocity and the Philippine Islands’ (1911), SMB, in 1910, was already producing 3,837,000 liters, which the government taxed at four centavos per liter.
In its newspaper and magazine adverts, the bazaar introduced the Sakura beer, which was sold in Manila at 35 centavos, as the “beer that was able to compete with the best German beer before the war.” Curiously, the beer was first introduced in the US before the Prohibition era.
The bazaar, relaunched as a Japanese department store, also brought to Davao the American safety matches, The Hammer, the much-sought Japanese pearls, Haori and Coolie coats and jackets, paper umbrellas, Fuji silk (gold medal winner in the 1926 Philippine Carnival), and cottons.
In agreement with Azumi & Co. of Japan, the store became the sole agents for Katol, the mosquito repellant advertised as “the best mosquito destroyer.” It also introduced in the old town of Davao the double soled Marubi canvas rubber shoes in khaki and black colors.
Interestingly, it also introduced the vertical radio brand National, advertised as follows: “This first compact table model presents the last word in radio receiving sets: both in beauty and durability. Built for long life and reception efficiency, it will provide you with economical entertainment. Its decorative hardwood cabinet will add charm to your home. Moderately priced, our model Z-2, four tube sets, sells for only P28.50.”
In another notice teasing customers for the Christmas holidays, the store, with over a dozen well thought of adverts, presented its Japanese kimonos as “made to order, from dainty wool and challis or all—silk crepes—beautiful patterns—are gifts which will certainly bring joy.”
The opening of Osaka Bazar in Davao can be attributed to a number of factors, such as the growth of Japanese population; the newfound preference of local residents, chiefly affluent families, for foreign goods; the strong demand for unique Japanese products; and the patronage of Japanese migrants towards everything Japanese.
The Osaka Bazar, which closed shop when war broke out and its iconic building heavily damaged by American aerial bombings when the conflict escalated, was situated at the corner of Anda and San Pedro streets, an area now occupied by a jewelry store. It stood just across the present-day Indian Palace.
There still exists today in Binondo, Manila, a Osaka Boeki Kaisha Ltd. It’s unclear if the establishment is the same old Osaka Bazar that pioneered in Japanese superstore concept in the country. Prewar records also show a company known as Osaka Boeki Kaisha, Inc., which was involved in the export of lumber.
In Philippine jurisprudence, the company was mentioned as plaintiff and appellant in a case (G.R. No. 47467) decided by Supreme Court on March 14, 1941, linking Leonardo Guison, as principal debtor, and Luzon Surety Co. Inc., as guarantor, to the acquisition of a semi-diesel 70 HP Kinoshita engine installed in a boat owned by Philippine Fish Company, which was sold by the original owners to the Japanese outfit.
The firm wanted the defendants to pay jointly the amount of P3,540, plus legal interests, from the date the claim was decided on March 31, 1937, in the Court of First Instance. The engine was the subject of a writ of execution issued in Civil Case No. 50186.
