I participated in the Tokyo Re-Wood Convention. This marked my first return to Tokyo in about 5 years, and the experience was markedly different. This time, I spent the majority of my stay in Odaiba, a meticulously crafted man-made island situated apart from the Tokyo Metro mainland. Although I had visited Odaiba on several previous occasions, I had never truly had the opportunity to explore the area to this extent.

We secured accommodation at the Grand Freasa hotel, conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from the Tokyo Big Sight Convention Hall. It also sits in close proximity to the Tokyo Big Sight Station, which runs along the Yurikamone Light Rail line. Additionally, there are several restaurants and a 100 yen store situated between the hotel and the convention venue, proving indispensable for last-minute items required for the convention.

The Tokyo Big Sight Convention complex is a grand architectural marvel comprising several distinct buildings that converge into a cohesive system. The central structure, known as the Conference Tower, boasts four massive stairwells adorned with glass facades, soaring upward to form inverted pyramids. These pyramidal bases collectively comprise the roof structure of the building. The presence of these four stairwells and the towering inverted pyramids above ground level creates a sprawling courtyard and open space. This is where attendees, arriving from the station, access the building. Following the main entrance, our path led us to the West Exhibition Hall.

The Re-Wood convention was held in the West Exhibition Hall on level 2, accompanied by two other simultaneous conventions—a pharmaceutical expo and a railway convention. I was informed that the pharmaceutical event garnered the highest attendance among the three conventions taking place that weekend.

Previous iterations of the Re-Wood convention primarily focused on showcasing vendors to fellow businesses. However, this year, the event coordinators adopted a different approach. Their aim was to attract families with young children, and perhaps more than half of the vendors catered to this demographic. These vendors exhibited an enchanting array of wooden toys, precision-crafted laser goods, musical instruments, and various other items.

In addition, other vendors showcased a diverse range of products, including furniture, exterior cladding solutions, and wooden saunas, among others. The convention spanned three days, marking our third participation in a convention, and it was our first in Tokyo, also being the largest to date. While we did not generate any sales over the course of the three-day convention, we established valuable business connections that hold great promise for the future.

Furthermore, this immersive experience provided us with an invaluable education on convention preparedness, product refinement, and the art of visual merchandising. We have gained clarity on our future plans and how to enhance our products and their presentation. We are deeply appreciative of the constructive criticism and feedback generously provided by customers and fellow vendors. Looking ahead, we are gearing up for another convention in Osaka, with a focus on outdoor spaces and saunas in the middle of September. Our hope is to achieve sales success and foster even more valuable business connections.