Eight Washington State companies participated in a CTED organized housing trade mission to four cities in Japan, April 14 - 18.

The State of Washington mission was co-sponsored by JETRO and supported by the American Consulates in Fukuoka and Osaka. Seminars were held in Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Kita Kyushu and Ogori, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Although

Washington State housing seminars had not been held in any of these cities prior to the April mission, turnout was good; over 150 builders, architects and others interested in Washington State housing attended the four seminars.

The four hour seminar program included building materials consolidation, panelized housing and door glass presentations. Following the seminar presentations companies divided up into smaller groups where a business card exchange and informal discussion took place. Prior to the seminars some participating Washington companies were able to meet one-on-one with selected Japanese companies through pre-arranged meetings organized by the State of Washington.

Participating Washington companies were Trinity Glass International, Green Crow Corporation, Saris Building, The Johnson Group, Farwest Packaged Homes, Cascade Components, Resource One and American Home Supply

Japanese Window Market

A recent report from the US Consulate in Osaka estimates Japan's market for windows was roughly $143 billion in 1996 (both residential and commercial). Domestically manufactured aluminum windows dominate the residential market with a 90 percent share. Use of wood and vinyl windows has been on the rise. It is estimated the market for wood windows last year was $99 million (imports from US were $54 million) and vinyl window sales were $320 million (imports from US were $20 million). Forecasts call for wood and vinyl sales to grow at a rate of 10 percent for the next several years.

Fire regulations treat doors and windows as one category (openings), for type A 60 minute rating and type B 20 minute rating. Unrated windows can be used in fire zones and quasi fire zones (urban and suburban construction) if the neighboring lot line or the center of any roadway abutting the lot is 3 meters or more away from the building on the first floor or 5 meters or more on the second or higher floors.

The Ministry of Construction does not require aluminum windows to undergo the individual fire safety testing required for wood and vinyl windows. Exercising its administrative discretion, MOC has entrusted enforcement of the fire safety regulations for aluminum windows to the Japanese Aluminum Door Association, which is allowed to certify aluminum windows under a group approval system based on long standing performance data. Bilateral discussions are ongoing between the US and Japan regarding the similar treatment for imported wood windows.

Source: US Foreign Commercial Service, Osaka, July 1997

A 10 booth Washington State pavilion was organized for the Good Living Show in Tokyo, April 23-27. Participating companies included Trinity Glass, Cascade Components, Milgard Windows, Resource One, Ostermann & Scheiwe, BMCI, Saris Building Corporation, Johnson Group, Build Com and Platt Electric. This was the second year the show was held at the new Big Site location at Ariake and attendance was about 180,000 visitors.

Product Installation Demo in Tokyo

A two day finish product installation demonstration was held in Tokyo, on May 22 and 23. The program was organized jointly by CTED and the Imported House Industries Organization (IHIO), a MITI affiliated association. About 70 attendees were present for the program, which was taught by Les Olson and Jim Seber from Trim Tech Inc., Puyallup. Products, which were donated for the demonstration, included cabinets from DeWils Industries, doors and windows from Jeld Wen and stairs from Johnson Postman. Trim Tech donated its staff time for the program.

Further product demonstrations are planned in September as part of the Washington State technology transfer program in Kobe, Tokyo, Nagoya and Sapporo.