STOCK MARKET WATCH - Tuesday, 31 January 2012

[xchrom]

41. Noritake brings upscale tableware to Chinese

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120131f1.html

Major ceramics producer Noritake Co. is stepping up its sales pitch for Western tableware in China's nascent market, where dishes designed for Chinese cuisine remain prevalent.

t remains to be seen how successful the Japanese-made tableware will be in China, the birthplace of ceramics. Much is at stake for Noritake, which is little known in China although it had already become a household name in the United States and Canada before World War II.

As business slows in Japan, the company's fortunes may hinge on how it fares in the Chinese market.

In late October, Noritake and its group firm, Okura Art China Inc., showcased their tableware and ceramic urns at Top Marques Shanghai, an exhibition targeting wealthy Chinese consumers. The event drew some 1,500 visitors, including corporate managers.