Furniture Today,
High-end Sala Azabu store in Tokyo to be sole distributor

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Kindel Furniture will make its first venture into Japan with a 3,600-square-foot display in the high-end Sala Azabu furniture store in Tokyo.

The display will occupy the second floor of Sala Azabu’s 25,500-square-foot store. 


Executives of the Japanese retailer signed an exclusive three-year agreement with the high-end furniture maker to become the sole distributor in Japan of Kindel’s 18th and 19th century reproductions.

Sala Azabu executives including company President Masozo Hara visited Grand Rapids last week to select 78 pieces of furniture, fabrics and finishes that will suit Japanese tastes. Kindel also has begun designing a high-end cabinet for plasma televisions just for the Japanese market.

The company plans to start shipping the furniture to Sala Azabu in November. The store’s other brands include Century, Frederick Cooper, Starbay.