Part IV: Tool Shops in Japan

[Qualitytools]

Thanks For Sharing, this is great eye candy while sitting in front of my PC. Much Appreciated!

 

[William Payne]

This seems to be common in Japan. Huge stores with everything you could possibly imagine. They do the same with cameras.

 

[Ford Farmer]

Super,

I literally just left that World Import Tools store. I'm three train stops away on my way back to Narita....I did leave some money behind for them to remember me by.

 

[rice rocket]

dude must have some deep pockets to keep such a huge inventory of highend tools. also he most have some good security lol

This seems really common in most countries that's not the US.

I think all the bean counters in corporate America get lost in inventory carrying costs and jettisoning low turnover items, while ignoring the opportunity costs from out-of-stocks.

 

[celspeare]

Really excellent post Superautobacs. I'm going to be in Osaka in July and look forward to checking out those shops based on your information.

 

[superautobacs]

Really excellent post Superautobacs. I'm going to be in Osaka in July and look forward to checking out those shops based on your information.

Excellent! Try to tell them that you learned about the stores through Garage Journal.

 

[ADSR]

Hah, when I saw that, it reminded me of you, so I shot that! Have you looked into the "SP Air" impacting air ratchet?

Thanks for that!!

I have someone who is going to Taiwan. I'm going to load up!! This ratchet even looks mean!

 

[G_P]

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing them!

Some of those pics make the places look very crowded with inventory. Is that common in Japan? I've heard real estate is very expensive in the cities so a small shop packed tight with inventory would make sense.

 

[loveblacktea]

thats fantastic!!!! Amazingly GREAT

To complete Part IV, here are photos from a store called "World Import Tools". I went to the sister store back in 2012 and I posted a lot more photos in this original thread: Part ll: What's the tool situation in Japan?

These photos are from their head store in Itabashi:










Some Bahco rolling cabinets:

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Some funny looking tools... older KTC (Japan) chicken drumstick ratchet, a WTools (William Tools (Taiwnese)) curved handle ratchet, and a SAM (France) pipe socket wrench







"Vanatub"






Some IR stuff. Look near the bottom....yes, you can bring your pneumatic impact and hook it up to the torque tester, free of charge!:






Lobster rivnut setter:






The anatomy of a Stahlwille Manoskop:






Can't forget the good ol' Norbar:












PB Swiss deadblows and even an umbrella







This is why their deadblows are the best:






Go ahead and stand on it:






Anyone need a Swiss made hoof cleaner?







or some fridge magnets?







Hazet's new push-button water pump pliers. Push the button with your thumb and adjust. OEM = Knipex?







That's all folks!

 

[superautobacs]

Thanks for that!!

I have someone who is going to Taiwan. I'm going to load up!! This ratchet even looks mean!

I hope your friend is able to find them for you! It's been known that some Taiwanese tool companies don't provide outlets to purchase them within their country. That is, they market them strictly for overseas sales, if not, make it their primary business and offer a small network for domestic sales.

Yeah, I like their product advertisements and wouldn't mind trying their tools.

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing them!

Some of those pics make the places look very crowded with inventory. Is that common in Japan? I've heard real estate is very expensive in the cities so a small shop packed tight with inventory would make sense.

Yes, in some cases, every square inch of space is utilized to display merchandise. It's not always the case though.

Take a look at Akihabara's "electric city". This is an extreme example.

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