About Us

Waza was founded in 2011 by Takayoshi Ito with a strong passion to introduce traditional Japanese and best designed products to the U.S. We believe that our products are unique and bring in the spirit of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. We view each and every product as its own work of art. After WAZA first opened in Kinokuniya Bookstore in Bryant Park, New York in 2011, Takayoshi realized that consumers are looking for fine quality products, and decided to introduce even more brands from Japan that consumers would fall in love with. This passion led to the second store opening in Nolita, New York in January, 2017. WAZA on 33 Spring Street now include 12 major Japanese brands and items crafted by Japanese artists.

The team at  WAZA is dedicated to introducing a variety of products including traditional and modern Japanese items, accessories, leather goods, clothing, and many more!

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What is WAZA?

Waza is a brand that delivers the finest Japanese products. The Japanese characters for Waza（和技）is written with the kanji -- “wa”, which means harmony created over many years of history, and “waza”, which means skilled techniques. Our mission is to bring the best Japanese products that encompass these values.

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