Tokyo Interior Plans To Buy More Malaysian Made Furniture

By Christine Lim KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- Japanese home furnishing and interior company, Tokyo Interior, plans to buy more Malaysian made furniture in line with the company's opening of new outlets in Tokyo. Its president, Hiroe Tonegawa, said Tokyo Interior which has 32 outlets all over Japan, is expanding and will be opening two new outlets in Tokyo this year. The company's business is expected to grow 20 per cent this year, driven by increasing demand from the Japanese furniture market following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in the country last year. There will be also a lot of repeat orders for Malaysian furniture this year, he told Bernama, adding that Malaysian furniture was known for its quality and stability. Currently, the company purchases more than 20 to 30 containers of Malaysian furniture per month. One container costs around US$20,000 and the items include dining sets, chairs, couches, ready-to-assemble furniture or Do-It-Yourself furniture, accessories and television cabinets. Tonegawa said Japanese consumers preferred quality furniture with good designs and colour besides being user-friendly as well as environmentally friendly. Tonegawa is attending the ongoing 18th Malaysian International Furniture Fair being held here. -- BERNAMA