[Sogo & Seibu] Mid-year gifts that bring joy and utility: Focusing on 'cooling' ice cream, 'soothing' beverages, and 'fulfilling' meat for a sweltering summer

Mid-Year Gift Collection Sogo & Seibu has announced that reservations for 2026 mid-year gifts will begin on May 7 (Thursday) at their official online store, 'e.Depart,' followed by a staggered launch in physical stores, starting with the Sogo Yokohama branch on May 29 (Friday).

In recent years, the culture of mid-year gift-giving has evolved from traditional staples to 'personalized gifts' tailored to the recipient's tastes and lifestyle. Given the increasingly severe summer heat, this year's keyword is 'useful, satisfying, and joy-bringing,' offering a wide range of practical and high-satisfaction products.

In particular, the store has strengthened its lineup of ice cream, beverage, and meat gifts, which see high demand as heat-relief options. From cool desserts to health-conscious beverage sets and stamina-boosting meat gifts, the collection offers both 'coolness' and 'nourishment' to help spend a comfortable summer.

They also feature premium summer-exclusive gourmet options, combining seasonal ingredients with the skills of master chefs and artisans. Furthermore, 'Special Value Items for Home Use' have been expanded to include groceries and quick-to-eat convenience items, meeting the growing demand amid rising prices while balancing cost-performance and convenience.

Featured Summer Gourmet - **Japanese Cuisine Suzu-nari: Domestic Hamo and Fresh Yuba Shabu-shabu Pot (10,800 yen)**: A luxurious set featuring carefully prepared hamo (conger eel), fresh fu, and yuba. - **Mutsukari: Matsusaka Beef Hamburg Steak with Summer Vegetable Japanese-style Sauce (10,800 yen)**: A Japanese-style burger featuring the rich flavor of Matsusaka beef mixed with summer vegetables.

Cooling and Nourishing Gifts - **Échiré Glass Gift Set (7,560 yen)** - **Wakayama Fumiko Farm Fruit Ball Jelly (5,400 yen)** - **Yamanashi Il Cursore Koshu Raw Gelato Assortment (5,400 yen)** - **Hokkaido Yotei-zan Famous Water Ice Coffee Assortment (5,400 yen)** - **Healthy Lactic Acid Bacteria Gift (5,400 yen)** - **Kobe Beef Roast Beef (16,200 yen)**