About the Founder

Taiyo Tsutsumi

Taiyo Tsutsumi, CEO, OkawaKagu.com
President & CEO, Okawa Kagu.com Co., Ltd.
Licensed Real Estate Transaction Specialist in Japan

Bringing authentic Japanese-made furniture from its place of origin to homes around the world—furniture that can be used, appreciated, and loved for many years.

My Mission

My name is Taiyo Tsutsumi, President and CEO of Okawa Kagu.com Co., Ltd.

I was born and raised in Okawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, one of Japan's most important furniture-producing regions. Furniture workshops, craftspeople, timber suppliers, and manufacturers have long been part of everyday life here.

My mission is to introduce authentic Japanese furniture and the craftsmanship of Okawa to people around the world.

Skilled artisans working on handcrafted furniture in Okawa, Japan.

I believe furniture should not be something that is simply bought, used for a short time, and thrown away. Good furniture becomes part of a home. It carries memories of family meals, conversations, celebrations, and ordinary moments that gradually become precious.

That is why we select furniture that is made with care, designed for everyday use, and created to remain useful and beautiful for many years.

Why I Started an Online Furniture Store

Okawa has been known as a furniture-making town for generations. However, as imported furniture and mass-produced products became more common in Japan, the meaning of the name “Okawa furniture” gradually became less clear.

Some stores used the name “Okawa Furniture” even when much of the furniture they sold was not actually made in the Okawa region. As someone born and raised here, I felt concerned that the identity and value of authentic Okawa furniture could eventually be lost.

In 2006, I returned to my hometown and joined my family's furniture wholesale business. I then began selling furniture online so that customers throughout Japan—and eventually around the world—could discover furniture genuinely made by craftspeople in and around Okawa.

The internet gave a small company in a regional furniture town the opportunity to communicate directly with customers. It allowed us to explain where a product was made, who made it, what materials were used, and why certain details matter.

I felt that this was the best way to show people what authentic Okawa furniture really is.

About Okawa, Japan's Furniture Town

Okawa City is located in Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. The region has a long history of woodworking and furniture production, supported by generations of skilled craftspeople and specialized manufacturers.

One of Okawa's greatest strengths is its network of expertise. Different workshops specialize in different processes, including timber selection, cutting, cabinetmaking, finishing, upholstery, hardware, and final assembly.

Our role is not only to sell furniture. We also connect customers with this manufacturing culture, communicate their needs to the makers, and help improve future products.

My long-term vision is to help make Okawa internationally recognized as a city of furniture and interior design—a place where people from around the world can visit, learn, exchange ideas, and experience Japanese craftsmanship firsthand.

What We Value

Selecting furniture online can be difficult, especially when purchasing from another country. You cannot always touch the wood, open the drawers, or speak directly with the person who made the product.

For that reason, we try to provide honest and detailed information about materials, construction, dimensions, finishes, delivery, and possible customization.

When selecting products, we particularly value:

  • Furniture made in Japan by experienced manufacturers and craftspeople
  • Materials and finishes suitable for a safe and comfortable home
  • Durable construction intended for long-term use
  • Designs that are practical as well as visually pleasing
  • Customizable sizes, wood species, finishes, and storage configurations whenever possible
  • Responsible manufacturing that supports regional industries and Japanese craftsmanship

We do not want to sell furniture simply because it is inexpensive or fashionable at the moment. We want to offer pieces that customers can continue to enjoy ten or twenty years from now.

My Career

  • 1999–2005: Worked for a condominium development company in Kitakyushu, Japan
  • November 2005–March 2006: Traveled through Europe
  • April 2006–Present: Joined my family's furniture wholesale business and began working in the furniture industry

Since entering the furniture industry in 2006, I have continued studying furniture manufacturing, materials, interior design, e-commerce, logistics, customer service, and international sales.

I am still learning every day. Visiting factories, speaking with craftspeople, listening to customers, and seeing how furniture is actually used often teaches me more than any textbook could.

Education

  • Shirasagi Kindergarten
  • Miyanomae Elementary School, 1983–1989
  • Okawa Junior High School, 1989–1992
  • Yanagawa High School, 1992–1995
  • Kyushu International University, 1995–1999

Before Entering the Furniture Industry

During university, I worked in several different part-time jobs, including event security, restaurant work, and after-school childcare.

  • Security staff at the Arita Ceramic Fair
  • Security staff at Space World
  • Staff member at the izakaya Hyakusho Chaya
  • After-school childcare assistant in Tobata

These experiences may seem unrelated to furniture, but I think they helped me understand how differently people live, work, communicate, and make decisions. That perspective has been useful when speaking with customers and considering what they truly need from their furniture.

A Little About Me

Outside of work, I enjoy overseas travel, music, camping, craft beer, and learning about different cultures.

I have visited countries including the United States, Canada, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan.

Traveling has influenced the way I think about homes and interiors. Every country has its own relationship with furniture, space, materials, family life, and hospitality. Seeing those differences has made me appreciate Japanese craftsmanship even more.

Favorite Cities

  1. Dubrovnik, Croatia
  2. Barcelona, Spain
  3. Granada, Spain

Snowboarding

I began snowboarding in 1999 and, for several years, spent around twenty days per season on the slopes. I have snowboarded at Sunshine Village and Lake Louise in Canada, as well as the Stubai Glacier in Austria.

Camping and Music

I have been camping around thirty times. I also enjoy relaxed outdoor music festivals, especially when I can listen to live music while enjoying a good beer.

I have long enjoyed British rock, including Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, and The Fratellis. More recently, one of my favorite Japanese bands has been Gesu no Kiwami Otome.

My Personal Motto

Learn it, review it, and put it into practice immediately.

CliftonStrengths

  1. Maximizer
  2. Ideation
  3. Activator
  4. Individualization
  5. Input
  6. Analytical
  7. Self-Assurance
  8. Futuristic
  9. Strategic
  10. Learner

From Okawa to Your Home

Purchasing furniture from another country requires trust. I understand that customers may have questions about product quality, dimensions, shipping, customs procedures, installation, maintenance, and after-sales support.

As the owner of the company, I want customers to know who is behind the store and why we do this work.

We are not a large global furniture corporation. We are a company based in a Japanese furniture-producing town, working closely with local manufacturers and craftspeople. That closeness to the production area is one of our greatest strengths.

I hope the furniture we deliver becomes more than an object in your home. I hope it becomes part of your daily life and something you continue to value for many years.

Thank you for visiting our store and for taking an interest in Japanese furniture and the craftsmanship of Okawa.

Taiyo Tsutsumi
President & CEO
Okawa Kagu.com Co., Ltd.

Company Information

Company:
Okawa Kagu.com Co., Ltd.

Representative:
Taiyo Tsutsumi, President & CEO

Address:
Okawa Kagu.com Co., Ltd. — 621 Gohara, Okawa City, Fukuoka, Japan
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fsaakcGLRsDNikV17

Telephone:
+81-944-88-3889

Fax:
+81-50-3173-1743

Our Websites and Online Stores

Follow Us

Back to blog