INTERNATIONAL
Plastics Challenge Wood for Bathtubs in Japan Chemical subsidiary of Japan's largest electrical equipment maker pushes a host of new plastics products In the average Japanese home early in the evening the master of the house rinses away the day's cares in his bath. His tub is a mellow, scent-giving wooden one that is one of Japan's traditions. But Japan is a land of change now, and the wooden tub's days may be numbered. At least that is the plan of Koichi Isahaya, marketing manager for Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. (a wholly owned subsidiary of electrical equipment maker Hitachi, Ltd.). Mr. Isahaya hopes to replace the old-style wooden tub with one of his company's new models made of polypropylene or glass fiber-reinforced polyester. It won't be an easy job. In some ways, wood is a most satisfactory material for a bathtub, as many who have enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of a Japanese bath can testify. "The older generation still has a lot of affection
for wooden tubs," says Mr. Isahaya. "But women and younger people are gradually becoming the most influential buyers." It's this market that Mr. Isahaya hopes to tap. So far, Hitachi Chemical is the only firm in Japan making a Japanese-style bathtub from polypropylene, Mr. Isahaya says. Injection molded, the tub is one of the largest items made of polypropylene. It is available in two models (54-gallon and 61-gallon capacity) and three colors (blue, green, and two-tone blue and white ). Price is about S64 for the smaller version, $72 for the larger. The 61-gallon reinforced polyester model sells for about $90. The prices of comparablesize wooden tubs are $70 and $75. Not an Instant Success. Hitachi introduced its tubs in the fall of 1962. They were not an instant success. Sales of the polypropylene version are
CHALLENGE TO TRADITION. Polypropylene tub drew attention at Tokyo International Trade Fair. It is competitive in price with the wood bathtub but Japanese affection for the wood version may be hard to overcome 48
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still running only about 1000 a month; sales of reinforced polyester tubs are about 600 a month. With about 22 pounds of polypropylene in each tub, current sales account for some 264,000 pounds of polypropylene a year. Japan's total polypropylene production last year was about 81.5 million pounds, so the tubs hardly count as a polypropylene outlet. Hitachi's salesmen, however, roam the countryside, enthusiastic about the market potential they see for both polypropylene and glass fiber-reinforced polyester models. Total demand in Japan for all tubs is now about 133,000 a month. Hitachi's marketing men feel that polypropylene and glass fiber-reinforced polyester together may be able to snag 54,000 or 40
