Furniture market in Japan - statistics & facts
IKEA’s failed attempt to take over Japan’s furniture market in 1974 highlights the challenges international businesses face in grasping the peculiarities of Japanese home designs and consumer mentality. However, furniture consumption is transforming, with e-commerce being a key indicator of how consumers purchase behavior has changed. Nowadays, online shopping channels account for almost a third of household utensils and interior sales, a ratio unimaginable until a decade ago. At the same time, a growing demand for sustainable items and rising raw material prices are challenging the market, as the purchase of durable household goods underlies a careful decision-making process for which few consumers show the intention to increase spending.
Metal, on the other hand, represents a modern material, either used to reinforce wooden furniture or as the main material in office furniture. Favored for its durability, affordability, and easy maintenance, the presence of metal furniture and furnishings has increased in Japanese households, particularly in combination with system kitchens or in home-office setups.
Traditional woodworking and modern metal processing
Japan’s furniture market is an import-focused market, with disaster prevention measures restricting lumber production for furniture manufacturing despite the country's large mountain areas. Products are segmented either by raw material used or by intended application. Wood and metal are the most common materials, while bamboo, plastic resin, and leather are used as secondary or supplementary materials. Wood is the main material for furniture in Japanese homes due to its history of traditional carpentry, and matches the wooden structure of many residential dwellings. Lumber processing regions like Ashikawa in Hokkaido and Okawa in Fukuoka are namesakes for wooden luxury brand interiors.Metal, on the other hand, represents a modern material, either used to reinforce wooden furniture or as the main material in office furniture. Favored for its durability, affordability, and easy maintenance, the presence of metal furniture and furnishings has increased in Japanese households, particularly in combination with system kitchens or in home-office setups.
