Post Show Report

October 14 [Wed] – 16 [Fri], 2015 Makuhari Messe, JAPAN

Consists of 2 specialised exhibitions below:

Facts & Figures Number of Exhibitors: TOTAL: 1,488 From 25 countries For each exhibition: IFEX: 507 GARDEX: 237 TOOL JAPAN: 195 AGRI WORLD: 549 Number of Visitors: (Three day in total): a record number of 42,368

Press Delegates: 248

Number of Seminar Attendees: 5,028

The Grand Opening Ceremony Every year, before the exhibition doors open on the first day, the ribbon-cut ceremony is held to celebrate the opening of the three day show period. This year, 45 leaders of the industries participated in the event as ribbon-cutting dignitaries such as ambassadors and top executives from major home centers, supermarkets, flower shops and garden centers, etc.

Honorable Guests ●Mr. Kentaro Sonoura (Member of the House of Representatives / Chief Secretary, LDP Exhibition Industry Parliamentary Group) ●Mr. Kumagai Toshihito (Mayor of Chiba City) Ambassadors / Overseas Organisation ●H.E. Solomon Karanja Maina (Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya) ●H.E. Markos Tekle Rike (Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) ●H.E. Sihasak Phuangketkeow (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand) ●Mr. Carlos Guevara (Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador, Chargés d'affaires ad interim) ●Mr. Yuan-Chang Wu (Taiwan Floriculture Exports Association, Executive Director Municipality ●Ms. Hiroko Iida (Chiba Prefectural Government, Executive Director for Distribution and Marketing) Japan’s Leading Home Centers ●Mr. Tadashi Iizuka (Juntendo, President) ●Mr. Shigeru Miyatake (Tokyu Hands Inc., General Manager MD Planning Dept) ●Mr. Kenji Nanba (Nanba Co., Ltd., President) ●Mr. Yasumasa Nishimura (Nishimura Joy Co., Ltd., Chairman) Japan’s Leading Flower Shops ● Mr. Hiroaki Miyajima (HIBIYA-KADAN, President) ● Mr. Hideaki Inoue (Aoyama Flower Market, CEO) ● Mr. Keiichi Uekusa (Daiichi Engei, President and CEO) ● Mr. Yoshikazu Kamiki (Tokyu Flora, President) ● Mr. Masazumi Nishiie (The Official Online Shop of HANA-Cupid, President & CEO)

<List of the ribbon-cutters>

Japan’s Leading Flower Auction Markets ●Mr. Shunzou Fujisawa (Flower Auction Japan Inc., President) ●Mr. Tetsuya Fukunaga (Toyoake Kaki Co., Ltd., President) Japan’s Leading Garden Stores ●Mr. Akihiro Ozaki (Ozaki Flower Park Co., Ltd., Managing Director) ●Mr. Toshiyuki Roppongi (Flower Garden Izumi, Inc., President) ●Mr. Hideho Tanaka (Garden Nigachi Co., Ltd., President) ●Mr. Tsukusu Takai (Hanahiroba Online Co., Ltd., CEO) Japan’s Leading Landscapers ●Mr. Noboru Unohara (Showa Zoen Co., Ltd., President Director) ●Mr. Toru Kobayashi (Eco Green Planning Co., Ltd., Representative Director) ●Mr. Yoshio Chikugo (Exterior Mominoki, President) Japan’s Leading Tool and Hardware Stores ●Mr. Tsutomu Nakajima (World Tool Co., Ltd., CEO) ●Mr. Takahito Yamada (Daito Co., Ltd., President and CEO) ●Mr. Tomohiro Matsumoto (Kunisada Co., Ltd., Director) ●Ms. Ayako Saeki (Factory Gear Co., Ltd., Executive Officer) ●Mr. Osamu Ikeuchi (Work Land, President) ●Mr. Hideyuki Takei (Hamure Co., Ltd., The Chief Executive Officer) ●Mr. Akitsugu Matsui (Daimatsu Co., Ltd., President) ●Mr. Yukio Izawa (Shokunin-san.com, Inc., President) Japan’s Leading Agricultural Corporations ●Mr. Hirokazu Kiuchi (Wago Co., Ltd., Director) ●Mr. Hideki Shimazaki (Topriver, President) ●Mr. Toshiyuki Yamada (Kotokyoto Co., Ltd., President) ●Mr. Takanori Arita (Arita Gardening Farm, President) ●Mr. Masashi Fukushima (GRA Agri Platform, Chief Operating Officer) ●Mr. Atsushi Matsuda (Mirai Nogyo Keikaku Co., Ltd., President-Representative Director) ●Mr. Masahiko Saeki (Maruta Co., Ltd., President and Chief Executive Officer) ●Mr. Shigeru Shinohara (Jardin Co., Ltd., President) Show Organiser ●Mr. Tad Ishizumi (Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd., President)

The 12th edition of INTERNATIONAL FLOWER EXPO TOKYO(IFEX) ended successfully with positive notes. This year the show welcomed 507 exhibitors with flowers and related products who would like to expand their business in the market. IFEX is unique in that so many Japanese flower growers gather at one place. Over 200 Japanese growers exhibited this year to meet Japanese and international buyers.

Not only Japanese companies but many overseas flower growers have utilised IFEX as the gateway to the Japanese market. This year, the show welcomed exhibitors from 4 continents : Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. There is no other place to meet with Asian suppliers such as Indonesia, Taiwan and Sri Lanka at one time, and IFEX 2015 served again as the centre of the flower industry in Asia.

IFEX is also known for rich contents in the events. IFEX Flower Awards - the contest was to decide “the future best sells” by Japan’s leading flower shops and famous flower designers, and it was held for the first time. 111 varieties were nominated this year and 3 category winners –Cut Flower, Potted Flower and Overseas Growers - were chosen among them. Winning flowers were guaranteed to be promoted in Japan’s major flower shops and flower schools actively. Japanese consumers will see these flowers in many stores in Japan soon. The contest was held in the evening of the day before the show, and prize winning flowers were presented in the special exhibit area during the three days show period. The special exhibit area proved to be a popular destination for visitors. Many leading breeders see the awards as the best way to promote their varieties in Japan and Show Management expect a lot more nominations for the next Awards. <Grand prize winning varieties>

Grand Prize for CUT FLOWER corsage lavender(lisianthus) from NAKASONE LISIANTHUS

Grand Prize for Potted Flower PRINCETTIA ROSA (PRINCETTIA) from SUNTORY FLOWERS LTD.

Grand Prize for Overseas Grower DEEP PURPLE(Rose) from ECUANROS

See all award winning varieties >> http://www.ifex.jp/en/To-Exhibit/award/