Participating in the USA 250th Anniversary Project
Izawa Towel has received a direct order from Amazon.com (US HQ) to manufacture commemorative beach towels for the USA's 250th anniversary in 2026, marking a first for a Japanese towel company.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 7, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 7, 2026 at 10:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 04:57 (330h 27m after Collected)
Izawa Towel Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Shoji Izawa, hereinafter 'our company') has received a direct order from Amazon.com, Inc. (Headquarters: Seattle, USA, hereinafter 'Amazon.com') to manufacture original beach towels commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026.
Receiving a direct order for beach towels from the US headquarters of Amazon.com (trading as a 1P vendor *1) is the first instance of its kind for a Japanese towel company *2.
Our high technical capabilities, quality control systems, and supply track record cultivated through our domestic brand 'Towel Laboratory' in Japan were highly evaluated, leading us to take on the supply of commemorative products that will color a historic milestone in the world's largest consumer nation.
■ Significance of the US 250th Anniversary Project and the Direct Appointment
This project was planned against the backdrop of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026.
As an official sponsor, Amazon.com is deploying commemorative products under strict brand management.
This time, our company received a direct appointment from the central purchasing team of the retail division, the core of Amazon.com, and we are rapidly advancing the production of tens of thousands of commemorative beach towels. These towels are scheduled to be widely distributed primarily within the United States.
In recent years, the selection criteria for direct suppliers (1P vendors) at Amazon.com's US headquarters have become stricter, setting high standards for quality and supply chain resilience.
We recognize that being selected in the 'beach towel' sector, a prominent consumer market in the US, is proof that our manufacturing and supply capabilities meet the requirements of global standards.
■ Features meeting the needs of the US market
The beach towel market is a massive market estimated to be worth approximately 30-40 billion yen in the US alone *3. In the US, the style of laying the towel directly on the beach is common, requiring a scale and functionality different from Japanese standards.
Our company will manufacture with the following specifications optimized for this usage scene unique to the US.
Adoption of extra-large size: An extra-large size (approx. 90x178cm / approx. 35x70in) that envelops the whole body and leaves plenty of room even for adults to lie down.
Reduction of sand adhesion: By applying a special treatment to the back side and increasing the smoothness of the surface, excellent sand release on the beach is realized.
■ Future Outlook
This matter is an important step towards our company's goal of 'creating a global standard for towels.'
The success story of our own brand 'Towel Laboratory' on Amazon.co.jp in Japan has also drawn strong attention from Amazon.com's US headquarters, and our company will use this initiative as a foothold to accelerate the expansion of towel sales in the US. Moving forward, we will fuse the manufacturing technology cultivated in Japan with global market needs to further push forward our business development as a top player in the global market.
*1 What is a 1P vendor: This indicates a transaction based on direct ordering and purchasing from the central purchasing team of the retail division, Amazon.com's core business, rather than opening a store as a marketplace (listing business) seller.
*2 According to our own research (as of March 2026)
*3 Estimates based on data from external research institutions, etc. / Calculated at 1 USD = 159.06 JPY
■ Company Overview
Company Name: Izawa Towel Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director Shoji Izawa
Location: 1-26-6 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Business Content: Planning, manufacturing, import/export, and sales of towel products, etc.
Official Website: https://www.izawa-towel.com/
Receiving a direct order for beach towels from the US headquarters of Amazon.com (trading as a 1P vendor *1) is the first instance of its kind for a Japanese towel company *2.
Our high technical capabilities, quality control systems, and supply track record cultivated through our domestic brand 'Towel Laboratory' in Japan were highly evaluated, leading us to take on the supply of commemorative products that will color a historic milestone in the world's largest consumer nation.
■ Significance of the US 250th Anniversary Project and the Direct Appointment
This project was planned against the backdrop of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026.
As an official sponsor, Amazon.com is deploying commemorative products under strict brand management.
This time, our company received a direct appointment from the central purchasing team of the retail division, the core of Amazon.com, and we are rapidly advancing the production of tens of thousands of commemorative beach towels. These towels are scheduled to be widely distributed primarily within the United States.
In recent years, the selection criteria for direct suppliers (1P vendors) at Amazon.com's US headquarters have become stricter, setting high standards for quality and supply chain resilience.
We recognize that being selected in the 'beach towel' sector, a prominent consumer market in the US, is proof that our manufacturing and supply capabilities meet the requirements of global standards.
■ Features meeting the needs of the US market
The beach towel market is a massive market estimated to be worth approximately 30-40 billion yen in the US alone *3. In the US, the style of laying the towel directly on the beach is common, requiring a scale and functionality different from Japanese standards.
Our company will manufacture with the following specifications optimized for this usage scene unique to the US.
Adoption of extra-large size: An extra-large size (approx. 90x178cm / approx. 35x70in) that envelops the whole body and leaves plenty of room even for adults to lie down.
Reduction of sand adhesion: By applying a special treatment to the back side and increasing the smoothness of the surface, excellent sand release on the beach is realized.
■ Future Outlook
This matter is an important step towards our company's goal of 'creating a global standard for towels.'
The success story of our own brand 'Towel Laboratory' on Amazon.co.jp in Japan has also drawn strong attention from Amazon.com's US headquarters, and our company will use this initiative as a foothold to accelerate the expansion of towel sales in the US. Moving forward, we will fuse the manufacturing technology cultivated in Japan with global market needs to further push forward our business development as a top player in the global market.
*1 What is a 1P vendor: This indicates a transaction based on direct ordering and purchasing from the central purchasing team of the retail division, Amazon.com's core business, rather than opening a store as a marketplace (listing business) seller.
*2 According to our own research (as of March 2026)
*3 Estimates based on data from external research institutions, etc. / Calculated at 1 USD = 159.06 JPY
■ Company Overview
Company Name: Izawa Towel Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director Shoji Izawa
Location: 1-26-6 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Business Content: Planning, manufacturing, import/export, and sales of towel products, etc.
Official Website: https://www.izawa-towel.com/