Rakuten 'Super Bag' showcase attracts more than 5,000 shoppers

SINGAPORE - Japan's largest online retail store Rakuten set up a three-day showcase over the weekend to trumpet the launch of its local website.

Held from March 28 to 30 at Ngee Ann City shopping centre along Orchard Road, the "Rakuten Super Bag" event attracted over 5,000 people.

The local version of the shopping site started running in January, but after a relatively low-key launch, it is ready to make its presence felt now.

In addition to a giant 9-metre high Rakuten shopping bag installation, the showcase also featured more than 300 products from some 40 merchants.

As part of the celebrations, celebrities Michelle Chia and Wong Li-lin were invited to participate in Japanese culinary demonstrations onstage. They were guided by chefs from Kuriya Fish Market as they whipped up a simple Japanese meal from scratch onstage.

candicec@sph.com.sg