Uozu Shopping Square Sunplaza

Uozu Shopping Square Sunplaza (魚津ショッピングスクエア サンプラザ) is a shopping center located in Ekimae-Shinmachi, Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Uozu Kosan Co., Ltd., a company under the Sawada Group. The building is a steel-framed structure with three floors, part of it four stories. It is sometimes written as 魚津ショッピングスクエアー サンプラザ. The center was built in anticipation of large-scale retailers expanding into Uozu City during the 1970s, and to secure the future of the local agricultural cooperative's 'Kumiai Market' retail operation. It was developed by the Uozu Agricultural Cooperative (JA Uozu), making it a relatively rare example of a successful commercial facility developed by an agricultural cooperative in Japan. Construction began in June 1974 on the former site of a commemorative company housing complex of Nippon Carbide Industries. The facility was completed on May 22, 1975, and opened on May 23, 1975. At the time, it had a site area of 11,609 m², a total floor area of 15,916 m² (with 9,039 m² of selling space), about 40 tenants, and parking for 300 cars (some sources say 500). The total project cost was approximately 2.1 billion yen. It was opened to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the merger of the Uozu City Agricultural Cooperative, with the aim of contributing to the commercial and economic development of Uozu City and the Shinkawa region. At the time, it was the largest in the Shinkawa area in terms of selling space, parking, and sales. The center underwent expansion and renovation, reopening on June 3, 1986, as a complex equipped with an all-weather multi-story parking garage and the latest new media facilities. In November 1990, it introduced the 'SOCIAS' point card. In 1995, it was renovated again, reopening on July 7 with 62 stores, 11 more than before. In 2005, the Uozu Agricultural Cooperative decided to transfer Uozu Kosan to Northland (Sawada Group), and the transfer was completed on December 12, 2005, for approximately 1.3 billion yen. After the transfer, the food sales area on the first floor became Osaka-ya Shop in February 2006. In June 2023, Espool Global opened its 20th BPO center in Japan and first in Toyama Prefecture, 'BPO Center Uozu,' within Sunplaza, commissioned by Uozu City. Today, Sunplaza continues to operate as a community shopping center. Its main tenants include Osaka-ya Shop on the first floor, an American imported used clothing store 'Candy' on the second floor, and Daiso on the third floor. The center is open year-round except New Year's Day, with weekday hours from 10:00 to 20:00 and weekend/holiday hours from 9:30 to 20:00, though some stores may differ. It is a four-minute walk from Uozu Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway.

Uozu Shopping Square Sunplaza was built in the 1970s in response to the planned expansion of large-scale retailers into Uozu City, and to secure the future of the 'Kumiai Market' operated by the local agricultural cooperative. It is a rare example of a successful commercial facility developed by an agricultural cooperative in Japan, alongside examples such as 'Repia' in Fukui Prefecture, 'Lapia' in Shimane Prefecture, and 'Coms Asa Park' in Hiroshima Prefecture. On December 12, 1973, Uozu Kosan Co., Ltd. was established with full investment from the Uozu City Agricultural Cooperative. In January 1974, the name 'Sunplaza' was chosen through a public naming contest. Construction began in June 1974 on the former site of a commemorative company housing complex of Nippon Carbide Industries. The completion ceremony was held on May 22, 1975, and the center opened on May 23, 1975. At the time, the site area was 11,609 m², the building was a steel-framed three-story structure with part four stories, the total floor area was 15,916 m², of which 9,039 m² was selling space. There were about 40 tenants, with key tenants being the clothing store Tokamart and the food store Kumiai Market. Parking was for 300 cars (some sources say 500). The total project cost was approximately 2.1 billion yen. It was opened to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the merger of the Uozu City Agricultural Cooperative, with the purpose of contributing to the commercial and economic development of Uozu City and the Shinkawa region. At that time, it was the largest in the Shinkawa area in terms of selling space, parking, and sales. In January 1986, expansion work began. On June 3, 1986, it reopened as a complex equipped with an all-weather multi-story parking garage and the latest new media facilities. In November 1990, the point card 'SOCIAS' was introduced. In 1995, the center underwent renovation: from June 1 to June 15, tenants except for the first-floor food area were closed for renovation. On July 7, 1995, it reopened with 62 stores, 11 more than before, and Bunendo Bookstore opened on the third floor in the former location of Yonezo. In December 2003, to resolve a violation of the credit limit to Uozu Kosan, the agricultural cooperative acquired the main building of Uozu Kosan. On September 3, 2005, the extraordinary general meeting of the Uozu City Agricultural Cooperative approved the transfer of Uozu Kosan to Northland (Sawada Group). The transfer was completed on December 12, 2005, for approximately 1.3 billion yen. Following the transfer, in February 2006, the food sales area on the first floor became Osaka-ya Shop. In March of the following year, a barber shop 'Top II' opened in the former JA Sunplaza branch on the first floor, and 'American Imported Used Clothing Store Candy' opened on the third floor. There was a plan as of June 2005 to build a three-story theater building (with parking on the first and second floors and a five-screen cinema complex on the third floor) and a five-story resort and leisure building (with hot springs), and to reopen in spring 2006 under the tentative name 'Landmark Sunplaza,' but this plan was not realized. On June 1, 2023, Espool Global opened its 20th BPO center in Japan and first in Toyama Prefecture, 'BPO Center Uozu,' within Sunplaza, commissioned by Uozu City. The opening ceremony was held on June 9, 2023. Today, Sunplaza continues to operate as a community shopping center. Its main tenants include Osaka-ya Shop on the first floor, American imported used clothing store Candy on the second floor, and Daiso on the third floor. Past tenants include Kumiai Market (later A-Coop), Mister Donut, FTI (Tokamart), Yonezo, Shimaya, Sunplaza Daily Goods, Sunplaza Kumiai Electronics (closed March 15, 2006), Green Restaurant Sunplaza, Perfect (car corner), a game corner on the fourth floor, a satellite studio used for recording Nippon Broadcasting System radio's 'San San Music,' and Bunendo Bookstore (opened July 7, 1995, closed May 12, 2024).

• Uozu Kosan Co., Ltd. established with full investment from Uozu City Agricultural Cooperative.

• Name 'Sunplaza' chosen through public naming contest.

• Construction begins on the former site of Nippon Carbide Industries' commemorative company housing.

• Completion ceremony held.

• Sunplaza opens.

• Expansion work begins.

• Reopens as a complex with all-weather multi-story parking and new media facilities.

• Point card 'SOCIAS' introduced.

• Renovation begins; tenants except first-floor food area closed until June 15.

• Reopens with 62 stores; Bunendo Bookstore opens on third floor.

• Agricultural cooperative acquires Uozu Kosan main building to resolve credit limit violation.

• Transfer of Uozu Kosan to Northland (Sawada Group) approved at extraordinary general meeting.

• Transfer completed for approximately 1.3 billion yen.

• First-floor food area becomes Osaka-ya Shop.

• BPO Center Uozu opens within Sunplaza.

• Bunendo Bookstore closes.

A community-based shopping center serving Uozu City and the Shinkawa region, offering a mix of retail, dining, and services.

Product categories. Clothing · Food and groceries · Books · Household goods · Electronics · Dining · Entertainment · Services

1. 1魚津ショッピングスクエア サンプラザ｜澤田グループuozu-sunplaza.com
2. 2魚津ショッピングスクエア サンプラザ - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata entrywikidata.org