Business Jan. 02, 2009 - 02:40PM JST ( 6 )

TOKYO —

Major department stores kicked off their business for 2009 on Friday, cutting prices to attract increasingly thrifty consumers amid a recessionary economy. On offer were traditional lucky bags, which some stores let customers cram full of practical products such as canned food or vegetables. Winter bargain sales were also under way at some outlets.
   
Officials at department store operator Mitsukoshi Ltd said shoppers queued up for lucky bags at its Nihonbashi store in Chuo Ward, downtown Tokyo, and a total of 1,300 bags priced at 15,000 yen each were sold out in about one hour.
   
Takashimaya Co, which announced in December a downward revision for its 2008 business projections, began selling winter clothes and products at a 20 to 30% discount.
   
The bargain sale is aimed at making up for sluggish sales at the end of last year, with consumers apparently waiting for markdowns, according to company officials.
   
Aeon LakeTown, one of the nation’s largest shopping malls opened by supermarket operator Aeon Co last October in Saitama Prefecture, saw about 12,000 people line up in front of the store on New Year’s day Thursday waiting for the doors to open. But per-capita spending has been on a down note, spokesmen said.