On 31 August 2023 the Sogo & Seibu labour union struck at the Seibu Ikebukuro flagship store in Tokyo, closing it to shoppers for the whole day, as talks with management over the planned sale of the chain to US fund Fortress Investment Group broke down. Around 900 workers walked out and 300 supporters rallied in a nearby park with members of other department store unions. The strike was the first by a major Japanese department store union in 61 years. Seven & i Holdings confirmed the sale to Fortress the same day and apologised for the strike, saying it would continue talks with the union; the sale went ahead and the union's aim of stopping it failed.