Meidi-Ya

Meidi-Ya, Co. Ltd.
株式会社明治屋
Company typeKK
IndustryRetail
Founded1885
FounderIsono Haraku
Headquarters
Kyōbashi, Chūō, Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Japan and Singapore
Websitehttp://www.meidi-ya.co.jp/

Meidi-Ya, Co. Ltd. (株式会社明治屋, Kabushiki-kaisha Meiji-ya) is a Japanese upmarket grocery store chain.[1] Its headquarters are in Kyōbashi, Chūō, Tokyo.[2] It is also a major wholesale distributor.[3]

Overview

Meidi-Ya was established in 1885 by Isono Hakaru [ja] (磯野 計).[2] Meidi-Ya has 14 locations in Greater Tokyo (mostly in upscale Shitamachi districts), 7 stores in other parts of Japan,[2] and two stores in Singapore.[4] As of 1989, the chain was one of the principal purveyors of the Japanese royal family.[3]

The English name Meidi-ya is the Nihon-shiki romanization of the Japanese name. Many foreigners in Japan have pronounced the name with a hard "d" instead of a "j". The di romanization is characteristic of Nihon-shiki.[1]

Meidi-Ya specializes in sale and production of food and beverages, importing and exporting of food products, wines and spirits, ship equipment, sale of industrial products, leasing and import of machinery, real estate, etc.[5]

References

  • Horvat, Andrew. Japanese Beyond Words: How to Walk and Talk Like a Native Speaker. Stone Bridge Press, 2000. ISBN 1880656426, 9781880656426.
    • See: "The Romaji (Roomaji) Conundrum." (Archive) - Excerpt from Horvat's book, which states: "The di ending is typical of Nipponshiki romanization, an earlier version of Kunree that, though hardly remembered, remains with us in the name of the upmarket grocery chain Meidiya, which generations of foreign residents have pronounced with a hard d instead of as "Meijiya.""

Notes

  1. ^ a b Horvat, p. 166. "The di ending is typical of Nipponshiki romanization, an earlier version of Kunree that, though hardly remembered, remains with us in the name of the upmarket grocery chain Meidiya, which generations of foreign residents have pronounced with a hard "d" instead of as "Meijiya.""
  2. ^ a b c "Company Profile." Meidi-Ya. Retrieved on May 13, 2013. "Head Office 2-2-8 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-8302"
  3. ^ a b "No Headline Present." (Archived 2015-07-08 at the Wayback Machine) Herald Scotland. Thursday February 16, 1989. Retrieved on May 13, 2013. "WHYTE & Mackay, has signed up Meidi-Ya, principal purveyors to the Japanese royal household and leading wholesale distributor, to market its flagship brand,[...]"
  4. ^ "About Us." Singapore Meidi-Ya. Retrieved on May 13, 2013.
  5. ^ "Company Profile". Meidi-Ya. Retrieved 14 May 2013.