Yamada Denki to make furniture retailer Otsuka Kagu subsidiary

Japanese furniture stores are really expensive, and it's no wonder Nittori and IKEA took their market away!

I have often heard people talk about how many Japanese spend a fortune on building their homes but have to furnish them from (proverbially speaking here) the 100yen shop because furniture is too expensive!

Henously expensive uncomfortable and just looks bad. Feel like I have to wear a wig or dye my head purple to come close to fitting in their furniture. It's no wonder people sit on the floor rather than a chair from this company.

IDC Otsuka is one of the most expensive furniture stores out there along with ACTUS. They have some nice furniture here and there but definitely not worth an arm and a leg, a business model that is just unsustainable in this economy. Nittori and Unkochankagu are now extremely popular but I also don't like that furniture, looks cheap and plastic so all that is left is Ikea.....lot's of choices, not.

I have often heard people talk about how many Japanese spend a fortune on building their homes but have to furnish them from (proverbially speaking here) the 100yen shop because furniture is too expensive!

Japan needs a bed bath and beyond, home goods, etc. I find it cheaper to buy things on Amazon.com, even with the international postage.

Nittori and Unkochankagu are now extremely popular but I also don't like that furniture, looks cheap and plastic so all that is left is Ikea...

Nitori looks no cheaper than Ikea at similar price points. Each has low and mid-level models. (No high-end, obviously, although Ikea can get up there in price sometimes for some mid-level quality items.)

Personally, I prefer Nitori for quality and price. Their linens are definitely better than Ikea's. And, having been a big customer of Ikea in the US and now a big customer of NItori in Japan, I find most comparable items to be better quality for the price (cospa) at Nitori.

As for ACTUS, they have some nice things at not-too-ridiculous prices, especially during sales. It's definitely a more upscale shop, though. It's not unlike Crate and Barrel in the US.

Just because you guys are broke it doesn't mean their furniture is bad or too expensive. I just bought a stunning 300000¥ monkeypod designer table in this store, and yeah, that might sound expensive for some but it's actually the cheapest option I found here in Tokyo (for this kind of table).

Other stores sell the exact same table for 500000¥, same wood, same design, width, length and height.

So I appreciate this store, I saved 200000¥ on this table.

I'm not really sure how Yamada Denki can afford to stay in business. Their products are seriously overpriced and behind technological times. Their electronics are very limited and restrictive. Sort of related, but I bought an $80,000 lexus brand new and it isn't even fully functional with all the great technology out there. It also is not customizable like American cars. Come on Japan.

This is what happens when competition is void...a usless void.

A merger of two losers. Nothing more than a desperate bid to stave off the inevitable.

I remember when my wife and I moved a few years back and were in the market for furniture. We wandered into an IDC Otsuka store to have a look and were stopped at the door by one of their staff asking if we had made an appointment. On learning that we didn't they gave us some forms which we were expected to fill out before they would let us actually just look at their furniture.

Most obnoxious place ever, we turned around and walked right out. Glad to hear they went under and had to be bailed out.