News Flash / Tainan’s “Linde Department Store” Reopens Today, Honoring History with a Showa Parade

Reporter You [illegible character] Ru / Tainan Photography & Reporting

Taiwan’s first department store with an elevator reopens today (14th)! The “Linde Department Store,” which was the largest and most modern department store in Taiwan 82 years ago, has now become the smallest yet most locally distinctive department store in Taiwan. The reopening ceremony today features a “Showa-era retro parade” as its main theme, combining historical figures with modern cultural creativity to showcase a fresh new look for Tainan’s new landmark.


▲ Linde Department Store reopening.

Opened in 1932, Linde Department Store marked the starting point of Taiwan’s transition from Japanese-style to European-style architecture. At that time, it was the first department store in Taiwan with an elevator. After more than a year of preparation, its grand reopening in 2014 blends memories of the citizens with art, culture, and local characteristics. The highlight of today’s (14th) reopening is the “Showa-era retro parade,” centered around the years 1932 and 2014, highlighting the fun of contrasts between past and present. Parade floats featured students from the Drama Department of Tainan University of Applied Sciences dressed as historical figures from the Japanese colonial era such as Yan Shui-long, Hatta Yoichi, Deng Yu-hsien, and Yang Kui, paying tribute to Taiwan’s history.


▲ The retro parade, themed around the years 1932 and 2014, highlights the fun of contrasts between past and present.




In addition, members and students of the Taiwan-Japan Association wore kimonos to recreate the charming style of women during the Showa period. Students from Tainan Girls’ High School and Tainan First High School also donned uniforms from the Japanese colonial era for the parade, and their canvas bags were specially custom-made by Synthetic Canvas Workshop. Even Tainan’s oldest baseball team, the Nan Ying Commercial & Industrial Vocational High School Baseball Team, joined in the celebration, along with retro commoners portrayed by students from Kunshan Technology University, all appearing in front of the Linde Department Store, drawing crowds of excited photographers.

For the opening ceremony, Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te and Lin Meizi, daughter-in-law of Linde Department Store founder Lin Fang-yi, jointly poured red wine to celebrate the reopening. The Linde Department Store, which officially opened its doors to the public at 6 PM, has already attracted hundreds of people waiting in line, creating a lively scene.


▲ The ceremony saw the participation of the mayor and other guests, with a red wine pouring ritual taking place in front of the store.