"The Fusion of Department Stores and Urban Culture in Modern Shanghai" integrates the research achievements of the author, Toshio Kikuchi, up to the present day. It focuses on the department stores owned by Chinese national capital that once appeared on Nanjing Road in Shanghai. From the perspective of the diverse urban functions they possessed, this book analyzes the history of these department stores. It elucidates how Shanghai's department stores, with their urban and entertainment functions, led the development of consumer culture and urban culture in 'Modern Shanghai' during the 1920s and 1930s. Furthermore, as multifunctional commercial facilities rich in urban attributes, the book examines their contribution to the development of Shanghai as a city.

The viewpoints presented in this book not only significantly alter people's preexisting impressions of department stores, but also clearly define the crucial role and central position that Shanghai's department stores played in the development of modern Shanghai's commercial and urban culture. Grounded in present-day Shanghai while envisioning its future, the Japanese historian engages in a sincere dialogue with the past. The research outcomes achieved by this exploration of Shanghai's history will undoubtedly receive high praise within Chinese academic circles as well.

《近代上海的百货公司与都市文化》融合了作者菊池敏夫迄今为止的研究成果，重点聚焦曾经出现在上海南京路上的中国民族资本的百货公司，从其具有的都市机能的多样性角度对百货公司的历史进行了分析，阐明了上海的百货公司曾经以怎样的都市机能和娱乐机能引领了20世纪20～30年代“摩登上海”的消费文化和都市文化发展，并且，作为一种富有都市多功能性的商业设施，如何对上海的都市发展作出了贡献。本书的观点不仅大大改变了人们原先对百货公司留有的印象，更是明确了上海百货公司在近代上海的商业都市文化发展过程中所起到的重要作用和核心地位。《近代上海的百货公司与都市文化》立足上海的现在，展望上海的未来，日本历史学者真挚地与过去对话，其所取得的上海史研究成果在中国的学界也一定会同样获得高度的评价。