On September 4, the Tokyo Gift Show Autumn 2024 edition kicked off at the Tokyo Big Sight. Held twice a year and proudly displaying its claim as the “largest trade show in Japan,” TGS Autumn 2024 covers all 8 of the Big Sight’s East Halls, as well as the entire first floor of the West Hall. The opening day found tens of thousands of visitors eager discovering the latest products being showcased by 2,842 exhibiting companies, including 898 international brands from 16 countries, covering the hottest trends in gifts, furniture, and everyday fashion. Leading Japanese MICE news outlet POP Inc. was on the scene.
Tokyo Gift Show comprises of a variety of themed areas, the most prominent of which are the “Young Fashion & Kids Stuff Fair,” the “Home Furnishings, Lighting & Decorative Goods Fair,” the “Daily Necessities & Sundry Goods Fair,” and the “Personal Accessories & Leather Goods Fair.” Concurrently held exhibitions are LIFE x DESIGN, LIVING & DESIGN, and the Gourmet Show.
Standing out amongst other stationery item exhibitors, Taisei Plas Co., Ltd. is showcasing its scented stamps for use in “oshikatsu,” active support of one’s favorite character, actor, or idol, a.k.a. one’s “oshi.” The stamps are offered in two sizes, a larger stamp that is stored in the base of an acrylic stand featuring a popular character, as well as a smaller stamp that can be obtained at random from a capsule toy machine. Sales Promotion Department Director Yurika Matsubara elaborated that each fragrance is meticulously designed based on the characters’ personalities and traits.
Official website: https://taiseiplas-stamp.com/
EdGift Inc., a highly acclaimed children’s toy maker, is using the Tokyo Gift Show to unveil its new line “TEGUMII” building blocks. TEGUMII are small, flat plastic blocks that notch together and have unlimited creative building potential from only 6 types of pieces. CEO Hikaru Koshikawa explained that TEGUMII are lighter, safer, and easier to put together than many other building blocks on the market. EdGift’s new product line, “BIG TEGUMII,” consists of soft foam TEGUMII that are 5 times the size of the original and sturdy enough to hold kitchenware. In addition, BIG TEGUMII are available for children of all ages, whereas regular TEGUMII are recommend for ages 4 and up.
Official website: https://tegumii.com/
On the other end of the toy spectrum sits JEKCA, the “Building Blocks for Kidults.” JEKCA are brick-shaped blocks that are secured together by screws, using the tiny screwdriver provided with the kits. The product choices consist of a vast lineup of realistic dog and cat breeds in varying poses, as well as zoo animals and iconic ancient architecture. At the Tokyo Gift Show, JEKCA is focusing on showcasing its new Mini block sculptures, which are estimated to be able to be completed in approximately 5 hours. Unfortunately, the booth does not offer the opportunity for visitors to test-build with the JEKCA blocks, and only the finished products are displayed.
Official website: https://jekca.jp/
Among the several regional pavilions, including China and South Korea, one pavilion stole the spotlight: Hawaii. Attendees strolling through East Hall 5 could hardly miss the significant crowd gathering at the Hawaiian and Japanese collaborative cafe, which serves fan-favorite dishes and beverages. This cafe is the face of the Hawaii Pavilion, which is organized annually by the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Brian Canevari, President of b.C. FRaME Inc., elaborated that the cafe also serves to encourage buyers to visit the Hawaiian Pavilion booths.
b.C. FRaME, a “Functional Research and Mechanical Experimentation” company based out of Kailua on the island of Oahu, is featuring its coconut husk planters at the Tokyo Gift Show. Not only are the planters organic and completely plastic-free, but they also serve as an additional source of nutrients for plants, as the growing roots eventually burrow into the husk itself. According to Brian, his first prototype planters from 2011 are still in good shape, so the husks have proven to be durable and long-lasting despite being comprised of organic material.
Furthermore, b.C. FRaME’s products have been a hot item among Japanese visitors for three years straight. When it comes to local buyers, Brian elaborated, they favor international companies that exhibit year after year. This indicates a commitment to creating a niche in the Japanese market. Even on the first day of TGS, customers that had purchased b.C. FRaME’s sample planters in previous years had visited the booth again, and a significant enough number of samples had been already bought that Brian was unsure his stock would last until the final day.
Not only are the hanging planters popular for Japan’s relatively compact living spaces, but also the market in its entirety is currently geared towards sustainable products. In the last several years, the Japanese public’s concern surrounding environmental issues has skyrocketed, and manufacturers have responded in turn, adapting to processes that uphold the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Marketing towards a society that is aiming to reduce net carbon emissions to zero, Brian shared an anecdote from his first year at the Tokyo Game Show. He had been surprised to receive a visit at his booth from the Japanese Government’s Minister of the Environment, who, regarding the coconut husk planters, stated, “Japan needs this now.”
Official website: https://www.bcframe.com/en-jp/pages/coconut-husk-planters
Tokyo Gift Show Autumn 2024 will continue through Friday, September 6, and entrance is free for industry professionals. The next edition in Spring of 2025 is scheduled to be held from February 12 to 14, also at the Tokyo Big Sight.
