- The term "home textiles" is still unfamiliar to most Japanese, though it has become more well known among people who have lived or traveled overseas. Many home textile products are already found in Japanese homes, though they are still not commonly lumped together as "home textiles" .
- The term has yet to catch on because still not that many people sleep in beds in Japan, and few people have guests into their homes because of the small size of Japanese homes. Places outside the home, such as restaurants and hotels, are used for this purpose instead.
- The term "home textiles" generally refers to the linen products used in places such as the home, hotels and similar accommodation facilities. It does not, however, include curtains, carpets and bedding. The main types of home textile products are as follows:
| a) |
Bed linen (sheets and covers) |
| b) |
Table linen (tablecloths, napkins and placemats) |
| c) |
Toilet and kitchen linen (towels and dishcloths) |
Linen products here include all silk, cotton, synthetic fiber and linen products.
- The home textiles industry has been affected by the slump in general consumption, such as the decline in demand for products for newly built homes and demand for gifts. Demand for low-priced daily necessities for trade use has consequently increased, while ordinary consumers too are increasingly buying reasonably priced, well-designed products regardless of whether they are imported or domestically made. The products that are selling are those that suit the more casual nature of present day lifestyles.
- Imports are steadily growing, but very gradually. Total imports grew 8.7% in volume on the previous year to 96.65 million dozen in 2000, and 5.6% to \67.6 billion in value terms, both record highs. Toilet and kitchen linen makes up the bulk (89.0%) of imports, growing 8.8% to 85.97 million dozen in 2000. 95.9% (82.48 million dozen) of these products, were towels. The domestic towel industry has begged for help in the face of the onslaught from imports, which have a market share of almost 60%, pressuring the government to impose safeguard measures. The government decided to shelve plans for their imposition and called for "self-help efforts" instead. Demand for safeguard measures remains, however, and pressure is again building on the government for their imposition.
- Use of beds by young people is generally increasing in comparison with the past, and Western-style furnishings are being adopted for children's rooms in newly built homes, as a consequence of which demand for bed linen is increasing. This is the reason behind the growth in imports of bed linen.
- Demand for table linen, on the other hand, has not increased because the custom of washing table linen everyday has not yet caught on in Japan, and there is little prospect of any significant growth in imports in this category in the future.
- Imports (in value terms) over the past few years have been as follows.
|
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
| Bed linen |
26,257 |
26,604 |
25,911 |
| Table linen |
4,615 |
4,183 |
3,416 |
| Toilet/kitchen linen |
30,661 |
35,837 |
38,273 |
| Total |
61,533 |
66,624 |
67,600 |
(Unit: million yen)
Source: Japan Trade Monthly
Due to the absence of statistics on domestic output of linen, it is impossible to estimate imports' market share.
- The main sources of imports of bed linen are as follows (in volume terms for 1996 and 1998, and volume and value terms for 2000).
|
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
|
|
|
Volume |
Volume |
Volume |
Value |
i% of valuej |
| China |
5,035 |
5,089 |
7,128 |
24, 566 |
( 94.8) |
| U.S.A. |
248 |
224 |
249 |
116 |
( 0.4) |
| India |
51 |
45 |
61 |
456 |
( 1.8) |
| Spain |
0 |
0 |
8 |
133 |
( 0.5) |
| South Korea |
8 |
4 |
6 |
30 |
( 0.1) |
| Others |
268 |
145 |
33 |
611 |
( 2.4) |
| Total |
5,610 |
5,507 |
7,485 |
25, 912 |
(100.0) |
(Units: 1,000 dz., million yen)
Source: Japan Trade Monthly
Imports used to be needed principally in commercial sectors such as the hotel industry, but use in the home has also increased in recent years.
- The main sources of imports of table linen are as follows (in volume terms for 1996 and 1998, and volume and value terms for 2000).
|
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
|
|
|
Volume |
Volume |
Volume |
Value |
i% of valuej |
| India |
1,833 |
1,782 |
1,761 |
1, 498 |
( 43.8) |
| China |
847 |
1,256 |
1,208 |
1, 321 |
( 38.7) |
| Indonesia |
21 |
8 |
80 |
66 |
( 1.9) |
| Philippines |
19 |
14 |
31 |
55 |
( 1.6) |
| Germany |
21 |
15 |
16 |
90 |
( 2.6) |
| Others |
191 |
98 |
100 |
386 |
( 11.4) |
| Total |
2,932 |
3,173 |
3,196 |
3, 416 |
( 100 .0) |
(Units: 1,000 dz., million yen)
Source: Japan Trade Monthly
The top two sources of imports, India and China, dominate with 82.5% of the market in terms of value. In total, however, imports are worth only around \3.4 billion. Between the high-end home textiles from Europe and North America and inexpensive products from Asia are positioned middle-grade domestically made products. Imports and domestic products thus compete for different areas of the market.
- The main sources of imports of toilet and kitchen linen are as follows (in volume terms for 1996 and 1998, and volume and value terms for 2000).
|
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
|
|
|
Volume |
Volume |
Volume |
Value |
i% of valuej |
| China |
47,907 |
49,753 |
61, 224 |
29,327 |
( 76.6) |
| Vietnam |
12,874 |
18,987 |
21, 656 |
4,758 |
( 12.4) |
| Indonesia |
959 |
1,030 |
1, 130 |
1,390 |
( 3.6) |
| South Korea |
265 |
305 |
522 |
331 |
( 0.9) |
| Taiwan |
461 |
307 |
516 |
598 |
( 1.6) |
| Others |
2,538 |
1,395 |
920 |
1,869 |
( 4.9) |
| Total |
65,004 |
71,777 |
85, 968 |
38,273 |
(100.0) |
(Units: 1,000 dz., million yen)
Source: Japan Trade Monthly
In the towel category, most of the cheap oshibori (hand towels) are imported from countries such as China and Vietnam.
- There are two important requirements that must be followed when importing home textile products: (a) silk textiles originating in China and products such as silk bed linen restored to silk textile form for use must be approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry when imported in accordance with the Import Trade Control Ordinance of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law; and (b) silk textiles imported from certain countries, such as South Korea and the European Union, and certain silk textiles, etc. from China require that prescribed documents be presented for confirmation by the chief customs inspector when being cleared through customs.
- Products must be labeled indicating the matters stipulated by the Household Goods Quality Labeling Law. Products not properly labeled cannot be sold.
- Asian products are imported more because of their price than their design. Most of the subcontracting plants of domestic manufacturers have shifted production to Asia, where they have invested in local ventures and provided technological guidance in an effort to reduce costs. High-end products, on the other hand, are imported from countries in the EU, such as Germany and France.
- Ordinary consumers nowadays are increasingly seeking "comfort and affluence" , consequently placing greater emphasis on coordinating their interiors. As far as bed linen is concerned, futons are still widely used in the home, and demand is low compared with Europe and North America. Demand for sheets tends to be for gifts. Demand for home textiles used everyday in the home, such as tablecloths and napkins, is still low. Demand for towels too is largely for gifts.
- Bed linen is sold through the following routes. (a) Bed linen such as sheets and pillows is mainly sold through mass retailers. Bed sheets and covers are purchased by general and specialist trading companies, and supplied directly to linen suppliers and similar service providers. (b) Tablecloths and napkins tend to be domestically made, and so are supplied by manufacturers to department stores and mass retailers. Imports of such products are sold by trading companies to department stores and manufacturers and the like. (c) Toilet and kitchen linen, which makes up the bulk of towel products, is supplied directly from importers to linen suppliers if for trade use (e.g. hand towels), while other imports are supplied to department stores and mass retailers by trading companies. Though still small in number, more manufacturers, department stores and mass retailers are now importing directly from overseas manufacturers.
- It is important to remember regarding imports that foreigners and Japanese have different tastes concerning e.g. the feel and absorbency of materials of products that come into direct contact with the skin.
- As Japanese lifestyles become increasingly westernized, imports of home textiles are likely to grow.
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