On Wednesday February 12, the 99th Tokyo International Gift Show kicked off at the Tokyo Big Sight. Held alongside the 17th LIFE X DESIGN exhibition, the 37th Gourmet Show, and the 19th LIVING & DESIGN exhibition, the Gift Show is Japan’s largest trade fair, featuring 3,000 exhibiting companies and covering approximately 100,000 square meters of booth space. Japan’s leading MICE News outlet POP Inc. spoke with exhibitors to explore the innovations in the gift industry.
The Tokyo International Gift Show exhibition hall is truly a delight for the senses. Visitors are whisked away to a new world with each aisle they enter. Bright, eye-catching licensed merchandise exhibits of beloved characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Tom and Jerry that feature virtually every neon color known to mankind are juxtaposed with the lush, green jungles of gardening and floral exhibits. Fragrant perfumes and beef sizzling on the grill offer feasts for the nostrils. And the lulling tunes of hand-crafted wooden guitars are contrasted with the upbeat tones of children’s xylophones.
International participation is at an all-time high this year. A total of 342 international exhibitors from 14 countries and regions are exhibiting, with some companies coming from as far as Spain, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Outdoor recreation brand Waboba Inc. hails from Sweden and has arrived at to the Tokyo International Gift Show in order to showcase their patented Moon Ball, the “highest bouncy ball on Earth.” The company’s booth features a giant gumball machine full of Moon Balls that draws a constant crowd. Global Sales Manager Jonatan Fällman Olander explained that this Gift Show marks Waboba’s first time ever exhibiting at a trade fair in Japan. After participating in international exhibitions throughout Europe and North America, the company is looking to expand into the Japanese market, and Olander has high expectations after a successful first day.
Waboba official homepage: https://waboba.com/
From Taiwan, Tailloon Balloons Co., Ltd. is a balloon manufacturer that produces the country’s most prominent line of balloon products, Prolloon. Tailloon exhibits at two Japanese trade fairs every year: the Tokyo International Gift Show’s spring and autumn editions, said representative Scott Yu. Compared to other international fairs across the world in which the company also exhibits, the Gift Show provides a consistently good turnout, and Yu added that there had already been significant traffic by the Tailloon booth on day one.
Tailloon Balloons official homepage: https://www.prolloon.com/
By far the country with the most exhibitors, however, is China, with a whopping 273 companies. Traveling from the southern metropolis of Zhongshan, F.F. Commerce and Trade Co., Ltd. is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that predominantly produces candles at their self-owned and operated factory. At the Gift Show, the company is showcasing their “omamori” style charms that each incorporate an original fragrance. F.F. is able to exhibit at Japan fairs many times per year due to assistance from their Japanese agent ForAsu.
Though the international representation is certainly impressive, Japanese companies at the Gift Show are equally hard at work presenting new and exciting trends to shake up the status quo.
TAKEO Co., Ltd. is revolutionizing the world of insect cuisine. The company creates a wide variety food and beverages made with protein from insects, and some fan favorites include salted whole-insect snacks and lollipops with insects fossilized inside. At their cafe in Asakusa, Tokyo, TAKEO offers such delicacies as silk moth meatball curry, cricket ice cream, and even giant water bug beer. Chief Sustainability Officer Shinjiro Saeki recommended the sweet and fruity Water Bug Cider, which is made from the similarly fruity extract of the insect and has been making waves among the booth visitors. Popularizing consumption of insects as an alternative protein source may be an important step towards ameliorating the world food crisis.
TAKEO official website: https://takeo.tokyo/
Based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Kishi’s Co., Ltd. produces party goods for every occasion. Their booth is decorated to look like a traditional Japanese festival with a touch of flair and showcases the company’s signature festival stalls. The stalls are lightweight and portable, and they feature popular children’s carnival games such as target shooting, yoyo fishing, and ring toss. Sales Planning Division’s Tomoyuki Fukuyama elaborated that Kishi’s can also custom-make original stall designs for their customers.
Kishi’s official homepage: https://www.kishis.co.jp/index_en.html
The 99th Tokyo International Gift Show Spring 2025 will continue until Friday, February 14. Admission is free for all industry professionals.
