Bic Camera

In 1968, {{nihongo4|Ryuji Arai|新井隆司|Arai Ryuji}} founded {{nihongo4|Takasaki DP Center Co., Ltd.|株式会社高崎DPセンター|Kabushiki gaisha Takasaki DP Sentā}} in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. Four years later, the camera sales department was separated from the company and renamed {{nihongo4|Bic Color Co., Ltd.|株式会社ビックカラー|Kabushiki gaisha Bikku Karā}}. In 1978, Bic Color was renamed Bic Camera, with their first store opening in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Originally specializing in selling cameras at discount prices, Bic Camera expanded to selling home appliances, personal computers, alcoholic beverages, golf equipment, bedding, luxury brand products, bicycles, and toys.

In 1994, Bic Camera spun-off its PC section to {{nihongo4|Bic Personal Computer Hall|株式会社ビックパソコン館設立|Kabushiki gaisha Bikku Pasokon-kan}}. Following a decline in PC sales, this subsidiary was absorbed back into the company in 2000. In 1995, Bic Camera displayed banners protesting France's nuclear weapons testing in the South Pacific. Nippon BS Broadcasting Corp. was established in 1999, with Bic Camera as its majority shareholder.

As part of its expansion, Bic Camera purchased Sogo's Yūrakuchō building in 2001. Throughout the 2000s, Bic Camera opened locations connected to JR stations across the country. In 2005, Bic Camera moved its headquarters from Nishi-Ikebukuro to Takada. A year later, the company purchased Sofmap in February and had itself listed in the JASDAQ Securities Exchange on August 10. In September, Bic Camera purchased a 3.2% stake in Tokyo Broadcasting System. On October 5, 2007, Bic Camera acquired a 9.33% share of rival Best Denki and increased its stake to 14.95%.{{cite web |url=https://japantoday.com/category/business/bic-camera-raises-stake-in-best-denki |title=Bic Camera raises stake in Best Denki |website=Japan Today |date=2008-08-09 |accessdate=2019-10-30}} On June 10, 2008, the company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and had itself delisted from JASDAQ on August 29. In 2009, Bic Camera was fined {{USD}}1.3 million by the TSE for falsifying its earnings after its shares lost half its value early that year. As a result, Arai stepped down as chairman and the company was delisted from the TSE. Sofmap was delisted on January 26, 2010 after becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Bic Camera. In June 2010, Bic Camera absorbed rival Sakuraya.{{cite web |url=http://www.tenkai-japan.com/2010/03/04/sakuraya-closing-business-to-be-a-part-of-bic-camera/ |title=Sakuraya closing business to be a part of Bic Camera |website=Tenkai-Japan |date=2010-03-04 |accessdate=2019-11-05}}

On June 26, 2012, Bic Camera purchased 50% of rival store chain {{nihongo4|Kojima|株式会社コジマ|Kabushiki gaisha Kojima}}. As a result of the Kojima acquisition, Best Denki split from Bic Camera and was fully acquired by Yamada Denki on July 13.{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/07/13/business/yamada-denki-to-buy-rival-best-denki/ |title=Yamada Denki to buy rival Best Denki |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=2012-07-13 |accessdate=2019-11-03}} On September 1, Arai was reinstated as chairman. On September 27, Bic Camera signed a partnership with clothing giant Uniqlo to convert the Shinjuku East Store to {{nihongo4|BICQLO|ビックロ|Bikkuro}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/09/27/national/media-national/bicqlo-bic-camera-meets-uniqlo-is-here/ |title=Bicqlo – Bic Camera meets Uniqlo – is here! |first=Rebecca |last=Milner |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=2012-09-27 |accessdate=2019-11-03}} The partnership ended on June 19, 2022 and the store reverted into a Bic Camera branch the next day.{{cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/tokyos-massive-bicqlo-shinjuku-to-close-this-june-052022 |title=Tokyo's massive Bicqlo Shinjuku to close this June |first=Kaila |last=Imada |website=TimeOut |date=2022-05-20 |access-date=2023-10-03}}

In April 2016, Bic Camera opened its first {{nihongo4|Air Bic Camera|エア ビックカメラ|Ea Bikku Kamera}} branch at Haneda Airport. Air Bic Camera also has locations at Narita International Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport, and Naha Airport, as well as two branches in Odaiba.{{cite web |url=https://www.biccamera.co.jp.e.lj.hp.transer.com/airbic/index.html |title=Air Bic Camera |publisher=Bic Camera |accessdate=2019-12-01}} On December 19, Bic Camera partnered with Rakuten to launch {{nihongo4|Rakuten Bic|楽天ビック|Rakuten Bikku}}.{{cite web |url=https://biccamera.rakuten.co.jp/ |title=楽天ビック |publisher=Rakuten Bic |access-date=2023-11-01}} In 2018, Bic Camera reported record profits and a 50% increase in shares as a result of a rise in Chinese tourists and the store chain's acceptance of Alipay and WeChat.

On February 7, 2020, Bic Camera opened its Nihonbashi Kaden branch in partnership with Mitsukoshi.{{cite web |url=https://www.biccamera.com.e.lj.hp.transer.com/bc/i/shop/shoplist/shop128.jsp |title=Bic Camera Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi |publisher=Bic Camera |date=2020-02-07 |accessdate=2020-03-10}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ryutsuu.biz/report/m020416.html |title=ビックカメラ／「日本橋三越」に出店、富裕層向けプレミアム家電強化 |website=Ryūtsū News |date=2020-02-04 |accessdate=2020-03-10}}

On March 5, 2021, Bic Camera opened its Kumamoto branch next to Kumamoto Station.{{cite news |url=https://kumanichi.com/articles/134905 |title=ビックカメラ、熊本県内初の直営店オープン ＪＲ熊本白川ビル |newspaper=Kumamotonichinichi Shimbun |date=2021-03-05 |access-date=2023-10-04}} In June 2021, the company was ranked 132nd on the Global Powers of Retailing's Top 250 list.{{cite web |url=https://www.commercepick.com/archives/4622 |title=2021年発表！世界の小売業ランキングTOP250 日本の小売企業は28社が選出 |website=CommercePick |date=2021-06-29 |access-date=2023-05-02}} In 2022, new branches were opened in Takatsuki and Chiba.{{cite news |url=https://www.ryutsuu.biz/store/o060372.html |title=ビックカメラ／大阪の高槻阪急3階に新店舗オープン |website=Ryūtsū News |date=2022-06-03 |access-date=2023-10-04}}{{cite news |url=https://nordot.app/959981198525726720 |title=ヨドバシ目の前に「ビック」 千葉駅前、販売競争激化も |publisher=Kyodo News |date=2022-11-01 |access-date=2023-10-04}} In addition, Bic Camera partnered with the JR East to have its own section on the "JRE Mall" online store.{{cite web |url=https://www.jreastmall.com/shop/c/cAs |title=ビックカメラ |publisher=East Japan Railway Company |access-date=2023-10-04}}

On May 7, 2023, Bic Camera closed its Kyoto branch, with its assets transferred to the Takatsuki branch.{{cite web |url=https://www.biccamera.com.e.lj.hp.transer.com/bc/i/shop/shoplist/shop101.jsp |title=[Closure] Bic Camera JR Kyoto Station Store |publisher=Bic Camera |access-date=2023-10-03}}

Bic Camera has stores in the following locations:{{cite web |url=https://www.biccamera.com.e.lj.hp.transer.com/bc/i/shop/shoplist/index.jsp |title=List of BicCamera stores |website=Bic Camera |accessdate=2019-10-12}}{{cite web |url=https://www.biccamera.co.jp/shoplist/yurakucho.html |title=ビックカメラ | ページ移転 |website=Bic Camera |accessdate=2019-11-04}}

;Tokyo

• Ikebukuro

:* Main store

:* Camera/PC building

:* West Exit

:* Bic Camera Outlet x Sofmap Ikebukuro East Exit

:* Photo studio

• Shinjuku

:* West Exit (Odakyu HALC)

:* East Exit (formerly Bicqlo; former Sakuraya store)

:* East Exit Station Square

• Yūrakuchō (former Sogo department store)
• Shibuya

:* East store

:* Hachikoguchi

• Akihabara (former Sofmap store){{cite news |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Bic-Camera-and-the-new-face-of-Akihabara |title=Bic Camera and the new face of Akihabara |first=Ryosuke |last=Hanada |publisher=Nikkei Asia |date=2017-06-24 |access-date=2023-11-29}}
• Nihonbashi (partnered with Mitsukoshi)
• Akasaka
• Haneda Airport (Air Bic Camera)
• Odaiba (Air Bic Camera at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza and Aqua City)
• Tokyo Skytree (Air Bic Camera)
• Tachikawa
• Chōfu
• Hachiōji (CELEO)
• Machida (Bic Camera x Sofmap)

;Kanagawa

• Yokohama

:* West store

:* Shin-Yokohama

:* Vivre Shop (Bic Camera Outlet x Sofmap)

• Kawasaki
• Fujisawa
• Sagamihara (former Sakuraya store)

;Chiba Prefecture

• Chiba
• Kashiwa
• Funabashi (former Sakuraya store)
• Narita International Airport (Air Bic Camera)

;Saitama Prefecture

• Ōmiya
• Tokorozawa

;Gunma Prefecture

• Takasaki

;Ibaraki Prefecture

• Mito

;Hokkaido

• Sapporo (partnered with Tokyu Department Store)

;Niigata Prefecture

• Niigata (partnered with CoCoLo)

;Nagano Prefecture

• Matsumoto (partnered with Aeon Mall)

;Shizuoka Prefecture

• Hamamatsu

;Aichi Prefecture

• Nagoya

:* Nagoya Station West store

:* Nagoya Station JR Gate Tower

• Tōgō
• Chubu Centrair International Airport (Air Bic Camera)

;Osaka

• Namba

:* Main store

:* Bic Camera Outlet x Sofmap

• Abeno
• Yao

:* Ario Yao

:* Bic Camera Toys

• Takatsuki

;Okayama Prefecture

• Okayama

;Hiroshima Prefecture

• Hiroshima

;Kyushu

• Fukuoka

:* Tenjin Store #1

:* Tenjin Store #2

• Kumamoto
• Kagoshima

;Okinawa

• Naha Airport (Air Bic Camera)

;Former stores

• Ikebukuro North Exit (closed 2002)
• Takasaki West Exit (closed 2011)
• Yūrakuchō Store Annex (closed 2011; now a Loft store)
• Former Shinjuku East Exit (closed 2012; now a Koko kara Fine drug store)
• Former Ikebukuro East Exit (closed 2021; now a GIGO branch)
• Funabashi Tōbu (closed 2022)
• Shijō Kawaramachi Select, Kyoto (closed 2022)
• Roppongi Station Select, Tokyo (Bic Camera Select; closed 2022)
• Harajuku Select, Tokyo (Bic Camera Select; closed 2022)
• Machida, Tokyo (Tokyo Odakyu department store; closed 2022)
• Kyōto Station (closed 2023)
• Seiseki-sakuragaoka Station (closed 2023)
• Sapporo Esta (closed 2023; moved to Tokyu Department Store)
• Ikebukuro Select (closed 2024; now a Sofmap store)
• Ito-Yokado Tama Plaza (closed 2025)

File:BIC CAMERA Ikebukuro main store 2018-02-08.jpg|Bic Camera Ikebukuro main store

File:BIC CAMERA Ikebukuro main store for personal computer 2018-02-08.jpg|Bic Camera Ikebukuro Camera/PC building

File:Biccamera Shinjuku.jpg|Bic Camera Shinjuku West Odakyu HALC

File:SANY0166 (3157264355).jpg|Bic Camera Shibuya East store

File:Shibuya TOEI IMG 1009 R 20150228.JPG|Bic Camera Shibuya Hachikoguchi

File:Bic Camera AKIBA.jpg|Bic Camera Akihabara

File:Chōfu Trie B-building.jpg|Bic Camera Chōfu

File:CELEO Hachioji.jpg|Bic Camera CELEO Hachiōji

File:Shin-Yokohama Station 20130506.JPG|Bic Camera Shin-Yokohama Station

File:Biccamera fujisawa.jpg|Bic Camera Fujisawa

File:Niigata-Station CoCoLo-South-Building 20130807.JPG|Bic Camera Niigata Station CoCoLo South Building

File:Bic Camera Nagoya-Ekinishi 11022.jpg|Bic Camera Nagoya Station West store

File:BIC CAMERA Namba on 13th May 2022.jpg|Bic Camera Namba

File:Footage of construction of ekimae ōhashi line in Hiroshima.jpg|Bic Camera Hiroshima

File:Bic-Camera Kumamoto-STA.jpg|Bic Camera Kumamoto

Bic Camera's original jingle was titled {{nihongo4|"Bic Camera no Uta"|ビックカメラの歌|Bikku Kamera no Uta|lit. "Bic Camera Song"}}, which was used in TV commercials and broadcast within the stores. The jingle's melody was loosely based on the enka song {{nihongo4|"Tabako-ya no Musume"|煙草屋の娘 / タバコやの娘||lit. "The Girl at the Tobacconist"}}, which, in turn, traces its roots to the American hymn "Shall We Gather at the River?". The song's original lyrics for the main branch in Ikebukuro referenced the Ikebukuro Station, the Seibu Ikebukuro Line by the east exit and the Tōbu Tōjō Line by the west exit, as well as Sunshine City. The lyrics were changed for specific branches such as Akihabara and Namba.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfolksong.com/popular/bic-camera.html |title=ビックカメラの歌 CMソング 各店舗の歌詞 |website=World Folk Song |access-date=2023-01-28}}

In July 2023, Bic Camera launched a new jingle, featuring new lyrics that add the Yamanote Line, the Shōnan–Shinjuku Line, the Saikyō Line, the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, and the Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line among the eight lines connecting to Ikebukuro, reflecting the district's massive growth as a shopping destination.{{cite web |url=https://www.biccamera.co.jp/shopguide/report/bgm/index.html |title=ビックカメラのテーマソング |publisher=Bic Camera |access-date=2023-10-04}}{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/abbb4841d95edc0b0652aa641417e749d46a4c14 |title=ビックカメラが45年ぶりテーマソング一新 なぜ変えた？おなじみのフレーズは継続 |publisher=Yahoo! Japan |date=2023-09-12 |access-date=2023-10-04}}

On March 1, 2024, the new jingle became the departure melody for the Yamanote Line at Ikebukuro Station.{{cite news|url=https://www.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1573063.html|title=ビックカメラのテーマ曲、山手線・池袋駅の発車メロディに　ヨドバシ出店は「関連ない」|publisher=Impress Watch|date=2024-03-01|access-date=2024-11-09}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Bic Camera}}

• {{Official website|http://www.biccamera.com/}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Japanese brands

Category:Japanese companies established in 1968

Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange

Category:Consumer electronics retailers of Japan

Category:Photographic retailers

Category:Photography companies of Japan

Category:Retail companies based in Tokyo

Category:Retail companies established in 1968