Hanshin Umeda runs its longest-ever Nordic fair, with Marimekko's first appearance
Hankyu Hanshin is stretching its annual Nordic import fair to a record 12 days and landing Marimekko for the first time -- the kind of themed fair department stores use to test which overseas brands have earned a permanent floor.
Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores said it will run "Hanshin no Hokuou Fair 2026," its annual Nordic-lifestyle fair, at Hanshin Umeda Main Store's eighth-floor event space from November 5 to 16 -- 12 days, its longest run yet. About 50 vendor stalls will take part, the company said, split into an early period (November 5-10) and a late period (November 11-16), with some shops and products changing between the two.
The headline addition is Marimekko, appearing at the fair for the first time, selling a 250ml mug at ¥4,730 and an apron at ¥11,880 built around the Finnish house's Unikko print, sold since 1964, according to the release. Fairs like this are how Japanese department stores road-test overseas brands at low risk before committing permanent floor space; signing a name with as established a following in Japan as Marimekko, inside a fair the company is already extending, points to appetite for the format to deepen rather than simply repeat.
Beyond Marimekko, the fair leans on food: Cafe Esplanade bakes a different cinnamon roll on site through the early period, an original size at ¥1,296 (about 30 a day) and a regular size at ¥648, while the late period hands the live baking to Lavintola Kamome, which recreates the cinnamon roll from the film Kamome Diner at ¥648, with the film's chef-owner scheduled to appear in person. A live-cooking counter from Kaiitto sells reindeer sausage with a salmon soup set (¥2,068), meatballs in tomato sauce (¥1,760) and reindeer stew (¥2,530), alongside vintage Arabia tableware, Almedahls textiles, a Fazer Moomin chocolate tin, and daily music, talks and workshops.