Tokyoyamaki

Tokyoyamaki Co., Ltd. (東京山喜株式会社) was a Japanese company that became one of the largest operators in the reuse-kimono market through its Tansuya (たんす屋) retail brand. The business originated in Kyoto in 1924 as a kimono wholesaler and was incorporated in 1961 with its head office in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. For decades it combined design and dyeing operations with kimono retail, but eventually withdrew from manufacturing and focused on retailing. In 1999 Tokyoyamaki opened the first Tansuya store in Funabashi, Chiba, launching a chain dedicated to second-hand and recycled kimonos, obi and Japanese dress accessories. Tansuya grew into a nationwide network: by January 2020 it operated 36 directly managed stores, 64 franchise stores and 12 Tansuya mini outlets, a total of 112 locations. The company also ran buying operations, purchasing used kimonos from customers, and offered cleaning, antibacterial treatment and pressing before resale. Stores provided dressing lessons and coordination advice to make kimono culture more accessible. Financial pressures, however, mounted. After reporting sales of about ¥3.917 billion in the fiscal year ended May 2017, revenue fell to roughly ¥3.860 billion in the fiscal year ended May 2019, and the company recorded two consecutive years of losses. Rising costs, retirement payments to officers and store-closure expenses worsened its finances. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought temporary closures and shorter opening hours, further reducing sales, while negotiations with a potential sponsor failed. Tokyoyamaki filed for civil rehabilitation at the Tokyo District Court on 20 April 2020 and received a commencement decision on 11 May 2020. After a sponsor process involving Yamano Holdings and later Kōrin, the company agreed on 19 August 2020 to transfer its reuse-kimono sales and purchasing business, selected stores and official website to Tansuya Co., Ltd., a vehicle established by the Maruyama/Kyōsai group. The transfer took effect on 1 September 2020, and Tokyoyamaki ceased operations while continuing its rehabilitation proceedings. Its corporate legal personality was dissolved on 20 December 2021. The Tansuya brand continues under the successor company, which describes itself as a specialist reuse-kimono retailer with around 40 stores, mainly in and around Tokyo.

Tokyoyamaki traces its origins to February 1924, when a kimono wholesaling business was founded in Kyoto. The enterprise was incorporated on 18 December 1961, with its head office in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. In 1980 a new company building was completed in Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku. Initially the company maintained an in-house design office and a dedicated dyeing factory, but it later withdrew from those operations and shifted to specializing in kimono retail. A turning point came in 1999, when Tokyoyamaki opened the first Tansuya store in Funabashi, Chiba, entering the reuse-kimono business. The Tansuya chain expanded across Japan, offering second-hand kimonos, obi and accessories alongside buying services. The company moved its head office to Sumida-ku, Tokyo, in 2008 and to Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, in 2014. In 2014 Hard Off Corporation invested in the company, and active event sales and inbound demand helped lift sales to about ¥3.917 billion in the fiscal year ended May 2017. In 2018 Tokyoyamaki formed a business alliance with BuySell Technologies. By January 2020 the Tansuya network comprised 36 directly managed stores, 64 franchise stores and 12 Tansuya mini stores, totaling 112 outlets. However, sluggish event sales and intensifying competition pushed sales down to roughly ¥3.860 billion in the fiscal year ended May 2019, with two consecutive years of losses. Rising procurement costs, retirement payments to officers and store-closure costs further weakened finances. The company sought to sell owned real estate, requested rescheduling from financial institutions and looked for a rehabilitation sponsor. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused temporary closures and reduced opening hours, cutting sales further, and negotiations with a sponsor candidate failed. On 20 April 2020 Tokyoyamaki filed for civil rehabilitation with the Tokyo District Court, and on 11 May 2020 it received a commencement decision. On 24 April 2020 it signed a basic agreement with Yamano Holdings as rehabilitation sponsor, but after Kōrin, a company in the Maruyama/Kyōsai kimono-retail group, offered a higher amount, Yamano Holdings ended negotiations on 30 June 2020. Kōrin signed a basic agreement on 2 July 2020, and on 19 August 2020 Tokyoyamaki contracted to transfer its business to Tansuya Co., Ltd., established by the Maruyama/Kyōsai group on 22 July 2020. On 1 September 2020 the reuse-kimono sales and purchasing business, selected stores and official website were transferred to Tansuya Co., Ltd., and Tokyoyamaki ceased operations while continuing its civil rehabilitation proceedings. Its corporate legal personality was dissolved on 20 December 2021. Of the stores that had been operating, 43 were transferred to Tansuya; some stores closed after the start of rehabilitation proceedings. Unpaid purchase amounts to customers who requested buying before 19 April 2020 could not be paid due to the prohibition on repayment under the preservation and management order and were treated as rehabilitation claims to be paid later.

• 2021

  Corporate legal personality dissolved on 20 December.

• 2020

  Filed for civil rehabilitation on 20 April; commencement decision on 11 May; business transferred to Tansuya Co., Ltd. on 1 September.

• 2019

  Sales fell to about ¥3.860 billion in the fiscal year ended May 2019; second consecutive year of losses.

• 2018

  Business alliance formed with BuySell Technologies.

• 2017

  Sales reached about ¥3.917 billion in the fiscal year ended May 2017.

• 2014

  Head office moved to Edogawa-ku, Tokyo; Hard Off Corporation invested in the company.

• 2008

  Head office moved to Sumida-ku, Tokyo.

• 1999

  First Tansuya store opened in Funabashi, Chiba.

• 1980

  New company building completed in Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

• 1961

  Incorporated as a legal entity; head office in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

• 1924

  Founded as a kimono wholesaler in Kyoto.

A specialist reuse-kimono retailer making quality second-hand kimonos affordable and approachable for beginners.

• Reuse kimonos

• Reuse obi

• Japanese dress accessories

• New kimonos

• Yukata

1. 1中古・リサイクル着物の販売・買取ならたんす屋tansuya.jp
2. 2たんす屋についてtansuya.jp
3. 3個人情報の取り扱いについてtansuya.jp
4. 4東京山喜 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
5. 5Tokyoyamaki - Wikidatawikidata.org