Our network of artisans and suppliers span the length of Japan

Premium Retail Gifting

WAZA offers premium gifting options to our retail customers at our Cape Town store, or online at WAZASHOP. The online collection of products includes a core range which have a loyal customer base, as well as one-of-a-kind items, and a regularly rotating collection of new items. We ship countrywide to all South African cities and towns.

Our retail store is also a meeting space and showroom, where we have samples of tatami, as well as catalogues for custom-made futon, noren and shoji screen paper from Japan. For any architectural or décor project which requires Japanese elements - furniture, lighting, bedding etc., you can make an appointment to meet at our store, or email us to set up a virtual meeting.

WAZA also manages a Mini Konbini product shelf of Japanese goods at Mochi Mochi Japanese Café in Cape Town.

Custom B2B Orders

WAZA has a decade of experience in importing Japanese goods to South Africa. We supply some of South Africa's premium hospitality businesses in the wine, travel and tourism sectors with custom branded products, and also supply restaurants with kitchen equipment and food ingredients.

WAZA's specialisation includes Japanese decor and design items and we project manage the whole process - from design and manufacturing, to custom branding, to shipping and delivery.

We have experience in supplying unique corporate gifts, sourcing Japanese décor items for bespoke building projects or film shoots, and supplying new restaurants with a full range of kitchenware and equipment.

WAZA is the official South African distributor of i.a. Tadafusa chef knives, Shinto Towel, Nawrap eco cloths, Toyo Steel toolboxes, Hasegawa chopping boards, Ishizaki kenzan and Toyama Hamono secateurs.

In short, we are experts in Japan and how to trade with Japanese companies, and we love a challenge!

Japan Travel Advice

With over 20 years of Japan travel experience and factory visits since 2016, the WAZA founders have unique insights into Japan travel for South Africans. Our travel style is to combine important sights with unique, off-the-beaten path experiences. We have made use of both public transport (trains and buses) and self-drive options and can advise on general do's and don'ts to consider when planning a trip to Japan.

Our travel advisory service has been operating informally since 2020 and will become more formalised in 2025, due to popular demand.

Contact us to discuss your Japan travel requirements, or let us know your travel questions. At a basic level, we can provide some structure to your planning, and we have also assisted many customers with conceptualising their travel approach, and with detailed reviews of draft itineraries.

Our 2024 Japan Travel survey showed us that there is big demand for WAZA Craftsmanship Tours for small groups and we will communicate these details as soon as they are launched.