Japanese To Buy Carpet Wool

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32073, 22 August 1969, Page 1

Japanese To Buy Carpet Wool

Mr Takatoshi Saeki, president of one of Japan’s biggest carpet manufacturers, the Sakai Rug Company, Ltd, of Tokyo, said in Christchurch yesterday that he would be buying New Zealand carpet yarn and was very interested in buying New Zealand commercial grade broadloom for hotels and restaurants.

There had been an extraordinary boom in the Japanese carpet market in the last three years, Mr Saeki said. More than 50 per cent of homes in Japan now used carpet. The amount of carpet a head of the 100 million population was now about three square yards—three years ago it was only a quarter of that “Five years ago most houses had one room furnished in the Western style —with carpet Now, many houses are furnished entirely in the Western style—with carpet squares. The tatami (traditional bamboo matting) was used universally until five years ago,” Mr Saeki said. Mr Saeki, who is visiting New Zealand at the invitation of F. and T. New Zealand, Ltd, explained that Japanese carpet yam was much inferior to that of New Zealand. The Japanese manufacturers used wool imported from many countries, including New Zealand, but mixed this with reprocessed wool (from

used jerseys and other woollen garments). “Until 1966, we exported carpet squares to the United States. Then the United States put up the duty on our carpets by 40 per cent, so we had to sell our carpets, very cheaply, on the home market. “Now we have bur Japanese people interested, we want to sell and manufacture carpets of better quality.” Mr Saeki said that the Japanese did not like patterned carpets, and preferred muted tones in plain carpet The houses were much smaller, and the rooms smaller, than rooms in New Zealand. Loud patterns and bright colours made the rooms look even smaller. “The Japan sse carpets are of much finer quality than those in New Zealand. Japanese take off their shoes when entering a house, and sit on a rug or earpet. They like the fine feel of a carpet, and they believe in simplicity in furniture, floor covering and flower-arranging.” Mr J. H. Barwick, export

manager for; F. and T. NewZealand, Ltd, who recently returned from a tour of Eastern and Asian countries, said the Japanese preference for finer textured—worsted carpets presented, a problem for his company. ‘There is a big and growingmarket for carpet squares

ton carpet factory, and would buy some commercial carpet for hotels and restaurants from other F. and T. factories in New Zealand. Mr Barwick said that his company’s exports of carpet yarn and carpets to Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia were steadily increasing over all. “We have been making progress in Japan, and hope that this year will see a big breakthrough. We will be carpeting the New Zealand pavilion at Osaka for Expo 70 and also

of the-Persian type in Japan, and exporters in this country should be interested,” said Mr Barwick; Mr Saeki . said that three years ago.there were five Wilton broadlooms in Japan, today there were 60. He said that he would buy carpet yarn from the Riccar-

the New Zealand Embassy being built in Tokyo. Naturally, we are using these two jobs as aibasis for a big promotion push in Japan,” said Mr Barwick. The company was carpeting the new 800-bedroom Hoag Koiig Hotel, and was recarpeting the Hilton Hotel in Hong Kong. Negotiations for the carpeting of new hotels in Singapore and Bangkok were in train, he said. The photograph shows Mr Saeki with Mr Barwick.