Featured At The 2012 International Home + Housewares Show: Japan Pavilion Upholds Tradition With Sake Reception

JETRO, Japan's governmental arm for external trade and sponsor of the Japan Pavilion at the IH+HS, announced it will hold a special Sake Reception for buyers and media on Monday, March 12, from 2:30-4:30 p.m., in S4667 at Chicago's McCormick Place. The event will feature Sakes from each of the prefectures hardest-hit by last year's earthquake and tsunami - Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima of the Tohoku Region.

JETRO chose the Sake Reception because Americans' interest in this beverage has been growing in recent years due to its compatibility with many cuisines from around the world. Because Sake is most closely associated with wine, Show attendees will be surprised to learn how suitable Sake is to many food types consumed in the U.S.

In addition, several of the Pavilion exhibitors produce a variety of beverageware, including Sake cups, ranging from modern to traditional designs. "While buyers enjoy the reception, they can also source Sake cups handmade in the Tohoku Region. Having Japanese Sake cups adds a whole new dimension and sophistication in serving this beverage for home entertaining", said JETRO spokesperson Atsushi Semimoto.

Wired Beans Inc.: The company's elegant, award-winning beverageware designs are 100% Made in Japan. In addition to their original clear and black lines of modern-style glasses, a new introduction is their red line, which unique characteristic is the brush strokes that have been purposefully left in their original state from the lacquering process.

Joboji Urushi Workshop: The company's classic range of lacquered sake cups, sake servers, and accessories represents the rare beauty of Japanese lacquerware. The lacquer oil used in their creations is a natural material found in Japan that has been used in traditional crafts for over 10,000 years.

RYU studio Co., Ltd.: RYU offers one-of-a-kind products and accessories made from the highest quality lacquer, Nambu ironware forging techniques and intricate traditional lacquer work. Every step is done by hand in what is called Japanese 3D art. RYU's Sake cups come in traditional Japanese style.

asahi kensou corporation: The company specializes in fine woodworking. Its designs are characterized by oval shapes, which softens the products' appearance for a distinctly Japanese feel. Uniting traditional crafting techniques with modern technology, the company offers unique sake sets, which distinctive designs consist of a serving platter, sake cups and pouring vessel.

The other six Pavilion exhibitors complement these offerings with a variety of homegoods and housewares suitable for cooking and entertaining with Japanese-influenced styles and designs.

Japan Pavilion Exhibitors Rise Above Adversity

The idea for the Japanese Pavilion to participate in this year's IH+HS came from the Japanese government in support of homegoods manufacturers in the regions most affected by the biggest earthquake on record and subsequent tsunami (Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima) on March 11, 2011.

The ten Japan Pavilion exhibitors represent product categories ranging from wood and lacquer creations to cast iron cookware and glassware. Retailers and distributors/representatives can review the exhibitors' products in greater detail, and make appointments with them ahead of the Show, by utilizing Housewares Connect 365 on the Show's website at www.housewares.org.

The one-year anniversary of the disaster falls on the Sunday of this year's Show.
###

About the Japan External Trade Organization

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. JETRO has seventy-two offices in fifty-five countries, as well