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| Quiz #62 - May 26, 2006 |
| A well-known chain of department stores features this clock in many of its locations. 1, What is the name of the department store chain? 2. In what country is its headquarters located? 3. What song does the clock play? |
| Submitted by Judy Pfaff. |
| ********** |
| Answers: 1. Sogo Department Store 2. Japan 3. "Its a Small World" |
| ********** |
There were several hints about the name
and nationality of the department store.
The first one (which almost everyone
missed) is the store's logo on the wall to
the left of and below the clock. I
almost cropped this part of the picture
out, thinking that leaving it would make
it too easy. It does not seemed to have
made a difference!
and nationality of the department store.
The first one (which almost everyone
missed) is the store's logo on the wall to
the left of and below the clock. I
almost cropped this part of the picture
out, thinking that leaving it would make
it too easy. It does not seemed to have
made a difference!
Two other big hints were the two signs written in Japanese in the entranceway of the
store:
Sogo was founded in 1830 in Osaka, Japan by Ihei Sogo as a retailer of used kimono. It
was incorporated in 1919. Sogo once had stores in such diverse locations as Beijing,
Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong, as well as many stores in Japan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sogo
Sogo applied to Osaka District Court for the Civil Rehabilitation Law on July 12, 2000.
Because of its recent financial troubles, the chain has had to divest itself of unprofitable
business lines including several locations in Japan. It has also been forced to close its
non-franchised international stores (including its Singapore location) and to raise capital
by franchising its overseas operations, which are now under separate ownership in
Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company is now a subsidiary of Millennium Retailing.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Hong Kong Sogo opened its second branch on
September 30, 2005 in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Sogo located in Causeway Bay (also known
as Jumbo Sogo) carries items in all product categories, but the Sogo in Tsim Sha Tsui
specializes in designer fashions. Also targeting the high class market, Sogo Indonesia
under PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk. is currently the largest franchiser of Sogo stores with
a total of eight department stores. Sogo still has two locations in Beijing.
The featured cuckoo clock is also known as the "Disney Small World Clock" because it
plays "It's A Small World After All", and gives passers-by a show of dolls from all over
the world every hour, on the hour.
was incorporated in 1919. Sogo once had stores in such diverse locations as Beijing,
Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong, as well as many stores in Japan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sogo
Sogo applied to Osaka District Court for the Civil Rehabilitation Law on July 12, 2000.
Because of its recent financial troubles, the chain has had to divest itself of unprofitable
business lines including several locations in Japan. It has also been forced to close its
non-franchised international stores (including its Singapore location) and to raise capital
by franchising its overseas operations, which are now under separate ownership in
Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company is now a subsidiary of Millennium Retailing.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Hong Kong Sogo opened its second branch on
September 30, 2005 in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Sogo located in Causeway Bay (also known
as Jumbo Sogo) carries items in all product categories, but the Sogo in Tsim Sha Tsui
specializes in designer fashions. Also targeting the high class market, Sogo Indonesia
under PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk. is currently the largest franchiser of Sogo stores with
a total of eight department stores. Sogo still has two locations in Beijing.
The featured cuckoo clock is also known as the "Disney Small World Clock" because it
plays "It's A Small World After All", and gives passers-by a show of dolls from all over
the world every hour, on the hour.
| Two view of the Sogo Dept Store at Causeway Bay in Hong Kong |
| Entrance to Sogo in Taiwan http://www.sogo.com.tw/ |
| Entrance to Sogo in Yokohama http://www.webtravelguide.com/restaurantreviews/tenichirestaurant.html |
| ********** |
| Description of the Sogo Dept Store, Taichung, Taiwan http://www.taiwanfun.com/central/taichung/articles/0011/0011deptstores4.htm |
This garishly-lit building demands attention with its
Oz-like appearance and dominates the city's main
business and hotel district. There are 18
above-ground floors and a single basement with
supermarket and food court, plus three more
basement levels of parking. A good selection of
medium-to-high-end products and ideal location has
made this one of the top three most profitable stores
on the island. A free shuttle bus leaving from the
entrance every 10 minutes connects to the smaller
Sogo II Department Store just down the road. A
basic English/Japanese/Chinese floor guide is
available at the first-floor information counter.
Oz-like appearance and dominates the city's main
business and hotel district. There are 18
above-ground floors and a single basement with
supermarket and food court, plus three more
basement levels of parking. A good selection of
medium-to-high-end products and ideal location has
made this one of the top three most profitable stores
on the island. A free shuttle bus leaving from the
entrance every 10 minutes connects to the smaller
Sogo II Department Store just down the road. A
basic English/Japanese/Chinese floor guide is
available at the first-floor information counter.
| KUANG SAN SOGO 299, Taichung Kang Road, section 1 Taichung Tel: 323-3788 |
HIGHLIGHTS:
-The Entrance Plaza Clock--Don't be surprised at the small crowd which gathers
outside the entrance at the top of each hour. They're there to see the big Disney clock
which plays 'It's A Small World After All' as a host of little dolls, wearing costumes
from around the world, comes out and dances to the tune.
-B1-Level Food Court and Supermarket--Fairly popular with office workers and
shoppers alike, the food court offers everything from Taiwanese cuisine to Aunt Stella's
Pennsylvania Dutch cookies, from the Japanese Mos Burger chain to and Little Italy
restaurant. The supermarket features some products not easily found elsewhere,
including good imported beers.
-12th-Floor Book and Music Stores--The Kinokuniya book store has an interesting
selection of English, Japanese and Chinese books and magazines (a similarly-good
Kinokuniya branch is also at Sogo II). Next door is a music store, while not the
cheapest around, has great English labels to help find artists/bands easily.
-17th-Floor SEGA World--One of the city's best and biggest video-game arcades
provides a good time for kids and adults alike.
-The Entrance Plaza Clock--Don't be surprised at the small crowd which gathers
outside the entrance at the top of each hour. They're there to see the big Disney clock
which plays 'It's A Small World After All' as a host of little dolls, wearing costumes
from around the world, comes out and dances to the tune.
-B1-Level Food Court and Supermarket--Fairly popular with office workers and
shoppers alike, the food court offers everything from Taiwanese cuisine to Aunt Stella's
Pennsylvania Dutch cookies, from the Japanese Mos Burger chain to and Little Italy
restaurant. The supermarket features some products not easily found elsewhere,
including good imported beers.
-12th-Floor Book and Music Stores--The Kinokuniya book store has an interesting
selection of English, Japanese and Chinese books and magazines (a similarly-good
Kinokuniya branch is also at Sogo II). Next door is a music store, while not the
cheapest around, has great English labels to help find artists/bands easily.
-17th-Floor SEGA World--One of the city's best and biggest video-game arcades
provides a good time for kids and adults alike.
| ********** |
| A Photo Quiz First |
Quizmaster Judy Pfaff was on her way to Japan and I asked her to keep an eye out for
good pictures for our quizzes. So she sent in one of the clock. This one was the first
one made on-demand.
Here is a funny story that Judy passed on to me, that I told a few of this week's
respondees:
We happened on the clock and a large crowd of people were looking up waiting. I
knew the instant I saw it what was going to happen. Our family had one of those awful
moments at Disney World many years ago where the boat stopped in the middle of the
song just yards from the end of the ride. They would not let us off the boat, and we
had to endure the endless loop of that song for at least 30 minutes while they fixed the
ride. I think it would be good torture music for prisoners. It turned out that my
daughter's finace's family had a similar experience. Deja vu half way around the world
in Yokohama! The Japanese love Disney and all his many characters.
Susan Edminster:
I got a kick out of [Judy's] story...I guess because "It's a Small World" is one of those
tunes that's great the first few times you hear it, then it becomes torture, and worst of
all it seems to stick in your consciousness. In fact it's running through my mind right
now! My kids and then grand-kids loved to go to that Disney ride when they were
small. My husband and I weren't as enthusiastic :-\
Betsy Scott:
[My] "wild guess" was based on a trip to Japan two springs ago, during which I was
truly impressed by the childishness of the Japanese adults. Thus, my wild guess about
Small World. It was the lamest thing I could think of! This in a country that seems to
WORSHIP that ubiquitous Miss Kitty thing.
Kelly Fetherlin
As for the “It’s a Small World After All”? Once through is okay, but, it’s just one of
those tunes that people love, or hate; or, love to hate. I feel about it the same way that
you do. Once it’s in my head, it keeps droning on and on for an entire day! It’s an
annoying little tune; just TOO CUTE! There are a number of other tunes like that, but,
the “Small World” is very annoying. Many year ago, somebody gave me a little plastic
music box thing with Hummels on the front, it played that tune! So, what could be
more appropriate? A plastic thing with pictures of Hummels on it, which would play
that annoying tune! KITSCH! UGH! I’m not overly fond of Hummels, or anything
similar to that. Might I assume that you aren’t keen on those, either?
Personally, prisoner torture could easily consist of having to ride the “It’s A Small
World After All” ride at a Disney park for 10 hours a day; or, play that music while
being shown an infinite loop of slides of Hummels! An additional 6 hours a day could
be spent listening to “Talk to the Animals”! It could be a perfect ‘Ground Hog Day’
moment, again and again, and again! I can’t imagine anything worse than being stuck
on the ride and having to listen to that song for 30 minutes!
Actually, the clock is quite interesting, and what an intricate work of mechanics, and
electronics. Except for the fact that it plays that annoying tune, and is filled with ‘too
cute’ dolls, it’s quite unique. I might like that better if it played the theme from Star
Wars, and the little dolls were Star Wars characters, or something like that? Oh, I
KNOW! How about if the clock played the theme from “Jaws”, and there were 24 little
sharks on the clock? That would be unique, wouldn’t it? From the sublime, to the
ridiculous, eh?
Fred Stuart
I imagine that the bells are chiming the song out and that would definitely be a good
torture tune like raking fingers over a chalkboard! Yes these quizes are addictive, but
fun chasing them down.
Carol Epp perhaps summed it up the best:
Yeah, it's one of those songs that gets stuck in your head too after you get off the ride.
good pictures for our quizzes. So she sent in one of the clock. This one was the first
one made on-demand.
Here is a funny story that Judy passed on to me, that I told a few of this week's
respondees:
We happened on the clock and a large crowd of people were looking up waiting. I
knew the instant I saw it what was going to happen. Our family had one of those awful
moments at Disney World many years ago where the boat stopped in the middle of the
song just yards from the end of the ride. They would not let us off the boat, and we
had to endure the endless loop of that song for at least 30 minutes while they fixed the
ride. I think it would be good torture music for prisoners. It turned out that my
daughter's finace's family had a similar experience. Deja vu half way around the world
in Yokohama! The Japanese love Disney and all his many characters.
Susan Edminster:
I got a kick out of [Judy's] story...I guess because "It's a Small World" is one of those
tunes that's great the first few times you hear it, then it becomes torture, and worst of
all it seems to stick in your consciousness. In fact it's running through my mind right
now! My kids and then grand-kids loved to go to that Disney ride when they were
small. My husband and I weren't as enthusiastic :-\
Betsy Scott:
[My] "wild guess" was based on a trip to Japan two springs ago, during which I was
truly impressed by the childishness of the Japanese adults. Thus, my wild guess about
Small World. It was the lamest thing I could think of! This in a country that seems to
WORSHIP that ubiquitous Miss Kitty thing.
Kelly Fetherlin
As for the “It’s a Small World After All”? Once through is okay, but, it’s just one of
those tunes that people love, or hate; or, love to hate. I feel about it the same way that
you do. Once it’s in my head, it keeps droning on and on for an entire day! It’s an
annoying little tune; just TOO CUTE! There are a number of other tunes like that, but,
the “Small World” is very annoying. Many year ago, somebody gave me a little plastic
music box thing with Hummels on the front, it played that tune! So, what could be
more appropriate? A plastic thing with pictures of Hummels on it, which would play
that annoying tune! KITSCH! UGH! I’m not overly fond of Hummels, or anything
similar to that. Might I assume that you aren’t keen on those, either?
Personally, prisoner torture could easily consist of having to ride the “It’s A Small
World After All” ride at a Disney park for 10 hours a day; or, play that music while
being shown an infinite loop of slides of Hummels! An additional 6 hours a day could
be spent listening to “Talk to the Animals”! It could be a perfect ‘Ground Hog Day’
moment, again and again, and again! I can’t imagine anything worse than being stuck
on the ride and having to listen to that song for 30 minutes!
Actually, the clock is quite interesting, and what an intricate work of mechanics, and
electronics. Except for the fact that it plays that annoying tune, and is filled with ‘too
cute’ dolls, it’s quite unique. I might like that better if it played the theme from Star
Wars, and the little dolls were Star Wars characters, or something like that? Oh, I
KNOW! How about if the clock played the theme from “Jaws”, and there were 24 little
sharks on the clock? That would be unique, wouldn’t it? From the sublime, to the
ridiculous, eh?
Fred Stuart
I imagine that the bells are chiming the song out and that would definitely be a good
torture tune like raking fingers over a chalkboard! Yes these quizes are addictive, but
fun chasing them down.
Carol Epp perhaps summed it up the best:
Yeah, it's one of those songs that gets stuck in your head too after you get off the ride.
| ********** |
| Domo arrigato Fitzpatrick-sama/sensei - Wild Stab Rudolph (aka Mark Brzys) |
| ********** |
| Congratulations to our winners! Eva Royal Carol Epp Stan Read Frederick Stuart Mark D. Brzys, aka Rudolph Jenko Loren Godburn Vicki Hilb Diane Rogers Rick Mackinney Betsy Scott Sue Edminster Jim Kiser Randy Seaver Debbie Sterbinsky Dale Neisen Kelly Fetherlin Jane Alcom Mary Fraser Marty Guidry Elizabeth Mackie Charles Hagler Elaine C. Hebert Rebekah Moore Maureen O'Connor Jim Berry David Lepitre Sherry Marshall Neil Ferguson |
| Special Mention goes to Emily Aulicino for all the research she did into the Seiko Watch Company. |
| ********** |
| Answer to Quiz #62 |
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