Bic Camera
A major Japanese consumer-electronics and general merchandise retailer.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Bic Camera is a Japanese consumer-electronics retailer whose origins lie in discount camera sales. The business was founded in 1968 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, by Ryuji Arai as Takasaki DP Center. Its camera-sales operation was separated in 1972 and renamed Bic Color, before adopting the Bic Camera name in 1978. The first store under the Bic Camera name opened in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, establishing the station-centered retail model that remains central to the brand. Although the name retains its camera heritage, Bic Camera developed into a broad-format Japanese mass retailer. Its merchandise has expanded to include digital cameras and lenses, televisions, audio equipment, computers, smartphones, household appliances, bicycles, toys, golf equipment, bedding, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and selected luxury goods. Stores commonly combine product sales with installation, repair, delivery, trade-in, points-based loyalty and tourist-oriented tax-free services. The brand is particularly associated with dense urban locations near railway stations and with large stores designed to serve both local residents and visitors. The company pursued diversification and consolidation from the 1990s onward. It separated its personal-computer business into a subsidiary in 1994, later bringing that operation back into the company after the PC market weakened. It acquired the Sofmap computer-retail chain in 2006 and subsequently made Sofmap wholly owned. Bic Camera also took a significant position in Best Denki in 2007, although that relationship changed after the company acquired 50 percent of Kojima in 2012 and Best Denki was transferred to Yamada Denki. In 2010, Bic Camera absorbed rival Sakuraya. Kojima remains a major associated retail network, while Sofmap continues as a specialist computer and used-electronics business within the wider group structure. Bic Camera has also used partnerships and alternative store formats to reach different customer groups. Air Bic Camera locations operate at airports and tourism-oriented commercial facilities. The company partnered with Uniqlo on the BICQLO concept in Shinjuku, collaborated with Mitsukoshi for the Nihonbashi Kaden store, and worked with Rakuten on the Rakuten Bic online retail service. It has also placed a Bic Camera section on JR East's JRE Mall platform. These initiatives extend the brand beyond conventional electronics superstores into department-store, airport, marketplace and omnichannel settings. The company became publicly traded during its expansion period. It moved from the JASDAQ market to the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2008, but later faced regulatory consequences after the disclosure of falsified earnings in 2009; the incident led to a fine and the resignation of founder Ryuji Arai as chairman. He returned to the chairmanship in 2012. Despite this setback, Bic Camera continued to expand and reposition its store portfolio. In 2023 it was described as Japan's second-largest electronics and home-appliance retailer by scale, behind Yamada Denki, with 45 directly operated Bic Camera stores in 17 prefectures and extensive affiliated operations through Kojima and Sofmap. The brand's identity is reinforced by a highly recognizable in-store and advertising jingle. The original Bic Camera song adapted the melody associated with the Japanese song 'Tabako-ya no Musume', itself linked to the American hymn 'Shall We Gather at the River'. Store-specific lyrics referenced nearby railway lines and landmarks. A revised version introduced in 2023 added additional railway lines serving Ikebukuro, and in 2024 the new jingle became a departure melody at Ikebukuro Station on the Yamanote Line. Bic Camera therefore combines specialist-camera heritage, broad consumer retailing, railway-oriented real estate, loyalty pricing and recognizable local store branding. Its principal market remains Japan, where the business competes with large electronics chains such as Yamada Denki and major on…
History
Bic Camera began in 1968 when Ryuji Arai established Takasaki DP Center in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. The company's camera division was separated in 1972 and named Bic Color. In 1978, Bic Color adopted the Bic Camera name and opened its first store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The original business focused on discounted cameras, but the chain gradually added appliances, personal computers and a wide range of general merchandise. The company's expansion accelerated during the 1990s and 2000s. Its PC business was separated into Bic Personal Computer Hall in 1994 and later reintegrated in 2000. Bic Camera established Nippon BS Broadcasting as a majority shareholder in 1999 and acquired the Yūrakuchō building formerly associated with Sogo in 2001. It increasingly opened stores near major JR and other railway stations, reinforcing its urban convenience and high-footfall strategy. Headquarters moved from Nishi-Ikebukuro to Takada in 2005. Bic Camera acquired Sofmap in 2006 and listed on the JASDAQ Securities Exchange that year. It also bought a stake in Tokyo Broadcasting System and accumulated a substantial interest in Best Denki. In 2008, the company transferred its listing to the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In 2009, an earnings-falsification case resulted in a TSE fine and the resignation of chairman Ryuji Arai. Sofmap was delisted in 2010 after becoming wholly owned, and Bic Camera absorbed rival Sakuraya in the same year. In 2012, Bic Camera acquired 50 percent of Kojima. The transaction altered the competitive landscape around Best Denki, which was subsequently acquired by Yamada Denki. Arai returned as chairman later that year. Bic Camera also experimented with joint retail formats, including BICQLO with Uniqlo in Shinjuku. That partnership ended in 2022, when the location returned to the Bic Camera format. The company broadened its reach through Air Bic Camera airport outlets, an online partnership with Rakuten, and a Nihonbashi store operated with Mitsukoshi. It opened a Kumamoto store near Kumamoto Station in 2021 and added locations in Takatsuki and Chiba in 2022. It also joined JR East's JRE Mall. Store closures and relocations continued alongside expansion, including the closure of the Kyoto store in 2023 and the transfer of its assets to Takatsuki. As of the cited reference material, the directly operated Bic Camera chain had 45 stores across 17 Japanese prefectures, while Kojima and Sofmap provided additional affiliated and specialist retail coverage.
- 2024
Bic Camera melody reaches Ikebukuro Station
[1]The revised Bic Camera theme is adopted as a Yamanote Line departure melody at Ikebukuro Station.
- 2023
Kyoto store closes
[1]The Kyoto branch closes, with its assets transferred to the Takatsuki branch.
- 2022
BICQLO partnership ends
[1]The Uniqlo partnership ends and the Shinjuku East store returns to the Bic Camera identity.
- 2021
Kumamoto Station store opens
[1]A Bic Camera branch opens beside Kumamoto Station.
- 2020
Nihonbashi Kaden opens
[1]Bic Camera opens Nihonbashi Kaden in partnership with Mitsukoshi.
- 2017
Rakuten Bic launches
[1]Bic Camera and Rakuten launch the Rakuten Bic online retail service.
- 2016
First Air Bic Camera store opens
[1]The first Air Bic Camera branch opens at Haneda Airport, creating an airport-focused retail format.
- 2012
Kojima partnership is established
[1]Bic Camera purchases a 50 percent interest in Kojima.
- 2010
Sakuraya is absorbed
[1]Bic Camera absorbs rival electronics retailer Sakuraya while consolidating Sofmap as a wholly owned subsidiary.
- 2008
Transfer to the Tokyo Stock Exchange
[1]Bic Camera lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and leaves JASDAQ.
Products and positioning
A broad Japanese electronics and discount-retail chain combining specialist product knowledge, competitive pricing, railway-station locations, loyalty points, services and tourist-oriented shopping.
Photography · 1978
Cameras and photography equipment
The original core of the business remains cameras, interchangeable lenses, accessories, recording media and related photographic equipment. Bic Camera's identity and store heritage were built around discount camera sales, although the category now sits within a much broader electronics assortment.
Electronics
Consumer electronics
The chain sells televisions, audio products, smartphones, computers, peripherals, networking equipment and other digital devices. Large urban stores typically organize these categories into specialist floors or departments supported by product advice, promotions and loyalty-point incentives.
Home appliances
Home appliances
Home appliances form one of the company's major businesses, covering products such as refrigerators, washing machines, cooking appliances, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners and small domestic appliances. The category complements Bic Camera's electronics expertise and supports delivery, installation and after-sales services.
Travel retail · 2016
Air Bic Camera
Air Bic Camera is an airport and tourism-oriented store format. It began at Haneda Airport and expanded to other airports and visitor destinations, including Narita, Chubu Centrair and Naha. The format is intended to capture demand from travelers seeking electronics and tax-free shopping.
Specialist retail subsidiary · 2006
Sofmap
Sofmap is a specialist computer, digital-device and used-electronics retailer owned by Bic Camera. Its role complements the parent company's general electronics stores through expertise in PCs, games, digital products and secondary-market merchandise.
Affiliated electronics retailer · 2012
Kojima
Kojima is a Japanese electronics and home-appliance chain in which Bic Camera holds a 50 percent ownership interest according to the cited reference material. It provides a broader regional store network alongside the directly operated Bic Camera and specialist Sofmap formats.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2023New Bic Camera theme song
Japan
Bic Camera introduced revised lyrics for its long-running store jingle, adding railway lines serving Ikebukuro and reflecting the district's growth as a shopping destination.
Outcome. The melody became a Yamanote Line departure melody at Ikebukuro Station in 2024.
- 2012BICQLO
Japan
Bic Camera partnered with Uniqlo to convert the Shinjuku East Store into BICQLO, combining electronics and apparel retail in a prominent Tokyo location.
Outcome. The partnership ended in 2022 and the site reverted to Bic Camera.
- 1995Anti-nuclear-testing store banners
Japan
Bic Camera displayed banners protesting French nuclear-weapons testing in the South Pacific, making the store network a visible platform for a political statement.
Brand decisions
2022
End BICQLO partnershipStrategyBackground
The joint concept with Uniqlo had operated in Shinjuku since 2012.
Action taken
Bic Camera ended the partnership and restored the location to the Bic Camera format.
Aftermath
The store resumed operation as Bic Camera after the joint branding ended.
2017
Launch Rakuten BicStrategyBackground
Bic Camera sought to expand its digital and marketplace presence beyond its own e-commerce site.
Action taken
The company partnered with Rakuten to launch Rakuten Bic.
Aftermath
The partnership added a major Japanese online-commerce channel to Bic Camera's retail ecosystem.
2016
Launch Air Bic CameraStrategyBackground
Airport locations offered access to travelers and international visitors in addition to ordinary urban customers.
Action taken
Bic Camera opened its first Air Bic Camera branch at Haneda Airport and expanded the format to other airports and visitor destinations.
Aftermath
The format became part of the company's tourism-oriented store portfolio.
2012
Purchase half of KojimaM&ABackground
Bic Camera pursued scale and regional coverage through a relationship with rival electronics retailer Kojima.
Action taken
It purchased a 50 percent interest in Kojima.
Aftermath
The transaction reshaped the relationship with Best Denki, which was subsequently acquired by Yamada Denki. Ryuji Arai also returned as chairman later in 2012.
2010
Absorb SakurayaM&ABackground
The Japanese electronics-retail market was undergoing consolidation, creating opportunities to take over selected rival operations.
Action taken
Bic Camera absorbed rival Sakuraya.
Aftermath
Some former Sakuraya locations were subsequently used in the Bic Camera store network.
2006
Acquire SofmapM&ABackground
Bic Camera sought to strengthen its position in personal computers and digital products through a specialist retail chain.
Action taken
It acquired Sofmap and later made the company wholly owned.
Aftermath
Sofmap was delisted in 2010 and continued as a specialist business within the Bic Camera group.
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