Japan to promote exports
Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, December 8, 2004
TOKYO -- The furniture industry is struggling in Japan, as it is in many parts of the world, which made the promotion of Japanese furniture for export a major thrust of the International Furniture Fair here this year.
In the 1970s, Japan passed the 10 billion yen (about $100 million U.S.) mark in exports of wood and metal furniture. Last year, however, exports were only 5.1 billion yen (about $51 million).Like the United States, Japan imports much more furniture than it exports — around 300 billion yen ($3 billion) a year since 2000. The International Development Assn. of the Furniture Industry of Japan has an export promotion committee headed by Tomonari Kato, who is vice chairman of the IDAFIJ and chairman of Karimoku Kagu Hanbai Co.
At the Tokyo show, organizers produced the first-ever Nippon Collection, featuring exhibits by eight Japanese manufacturers and trade groups offering a range of typical products aimed at overseas markets and promoting the unique qualities of Japanese furniture.The goal is to establish Nippon styles as a worldwide furniture trend. Participants, and their Web sites, were Aichi Co., www.axona-aichi.com ; Iyobe Kogeisha, www.iyobe.com; Karimoku Kagu Hanbai, www.karimoku.com; Kosuga & Co., http://kosuga.co.jp; Gifuken Group, www.nissin-mokkou.co.jp; Hida Sangyo, www.kitutuki.co.jp; Morishige, www.morishige-furniture.co.jp; and Waazwiz, www.waazwiz.com.In January, with the support of the Japan External Trade Organization, IDAFIJ is sponsoring a booth at the Cologne International Furniture Fair in Germany, where four major Japanese manufacturers will show, marking the return of Japanese companies to Cologne after a 10-year absence.
Companies to be featured in Cologne are:
* Aizu Kiri Tansu, a producer of wood furniture – www.okuaizu-style.com.
* Karimoku Kagu Hanbai, a full-line producer – www.karimoku.com.
* Shirakawa, a producer of wood furniture – www.shirakawa.co.jp.
* Morishige, a producer of traditional wood furniture – www.morishige-furniture.co.jp.
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