The 21st International Jewellery Tokyo in Toyko is shaping up to be the biggest and best, according to organisers Reed Exhibitions Japan and the Japan Jewellery Association.
Due to be held on January 27-30 at Tokyo Big Sight, the show is expected to attract over 1500 exhibitors (from 35 countries including Japan, Australia, Canada, Russia, US, Poland, India, Spain, Italy, France and China )and 38,000-plus visitors.
The 2009 Fair, held concurrently with the 1st Tokyo International Watch Fair, attracted 1509 exhibitors and 37, 936 buyers despite the fact that “it coincided with the world’s worst economic crisis in a century”.
“This is in sharp contrast to many other fairs around the world that have either seen their visitor numbers fall drastically, or even have had to be postponed,” said IJT Reed Exhibitions Japan president Tad Ishizumi.
“IJT is well known as the best venue to step into the Japanese jewellery market,” he said.
“Japan is a world leading jewellery market valued at US$10 billion annually, and large numbers of overseas exhibitors utilise IJT each year to expand their business here.
Ishizumi said Reed Exhibitons had “given 100 percent effort to stimulate the growth of the jewellery industry by expanding the market demand, and providing business opportunities to the exhibitors at the fair” since IJT’s launch in 1988.
Ishizumi’s sentiments were echoed by many of the exhibitors and visitors at the 2009 Fair.
For example, Yi Jiang, the president of Chinese retailer, Shanghai Eastern Jewelry, said the Fair was “full of quality products”.
“We were able to source many products at great prices, and are extremely happy,” she said.
Similarly Muhammad Liaquat Darwesh, the managing director of UAE importer Trust Jewellery said the company purchased “great quality loose pearls and pearl jewellery” at the Fair.
“Next time I will bring more buyers from my company to source for great products,” he said.
Exhibitors at the 2010 IJT will include Breuning (Germany), Cody Opal (Australia), Pluczenik Diamond Company (Israel), Golay Bucheltrading (Japan), Charade by MLK (Italy) and Rosy Blue (Japan).
The second Tokyo International Watch Fair will be held concurrently with 2010 IJT.
For more information on IJT and TWF visit www.ijt.jp