Japanese flavours at Ambiente

With the spotlight on Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games, Japanese exhibitors enjoyed a heightened focus at this month’s Ambiente (Frankfurt February 7- 11). Several companies exhibited in a new Japanese Pavilion in Hall 1.1, and there were 13 products from Japanese exhibitors in the Trends 2020 display in Galleria 1.

Moreover, Japanese visitors to the show increased – the country entered Ambiente’s ‘top 10’. It was 9^th place in highest international visitor numbers.

Halls 4.1 and 8.0 hosted ‘Japan Style’, with 21 exhibitors that included ceramics ad tea-ware. Visitors to Bar Japan Style were treated to sake and green tea, a well as demonstrations and workshops of Japanese crafts.

In the Japanese Pavilion, Hiroko Onishi (executive general manager of Fujita Metal’s international sales division) demonstrated the Jui 10 Frying Pan range, with detachable walnut or beech wood handles that convert the iron pan into a serving bowl or dish. Crafted in a small factory in Osaka, Hiroko says of the pans: “They don’t rust and have natural non-stick qualities so if you take care of them, handwash and use oil, you can have a lifetime of use.”

Design Works Ancient showed its petite sized Poketle bottles and food jars in the Japanese Pavilion, using the slogan, ‘Only the necessary.’ Design Work’s Yuki Hotta said the sizes are perfect for people “going for a short work, or going to the gym and refilling, as well as older people who just want a small drink or something to carry medicines in.”

Above: Yuki Hotta of Design Works Ancient with some of the Poketle range of small drinks bottles and soup flasks.

Another Japanese exhibitor, Taiyo Group showcased its recycled plastic tableware made from bottles collected from schools that are local to its factory. The plastic manufacturer has been making the recycled range for 20 years.

Above: Haruna Makimoto of Taiyo Group with tableware made from recycled plastic water bottles.

Cookware, knives and cutlery manufacturers from Japan’s Tsubamesanjo region included Smith Sanjo Japan, Yoshikawa and Tojiro.

Above: A master of metal engraving demonstrated on the Smith Sanjo Japan stand in Hall 3.1.

Among the exhibitors in the Trends 2020 presentation – across each of the three trend areas – were Ceramic Japan (Shaped + Softened trend), Fujita Metal –JETRO (Precise + Architectural trend) and Japan Metal Flatware Industry Association and Iskizuka Glass – Japan Style (Artistic + Diverse trend).