Wellness Brand "TOJI" Expanding into Silicon Valley Holds First Pop-up in San Francisco, Garnering High Interest in Japanese Origins
Key facts
- Wellness Brand "TOJI" Expanding into Silicon Valley Holds First Pop-up in San Francisco, Garnering High Interest in Japanese Origins
- Japanese wellness brand "TOJI" held its first pop-up store in San Francisco, USA, in March 2026, confirming high local interest in Japanese-origin wellness products and "sake kasu" (sake lees) material. This event served as test marketing for a full-scale entry into the U.S. market.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: April 1, 2026
Direct answer
Japanese wellness brand "TOJI" held its first pop-up store in San Francisco, USA, in March 2026, confirming high local interest in Japanese-origin wellness products and "sake kasu" (sake lees) material. This event served as test marketing for a full-scale entry into the U.S. market.
- Citation
- Wellness Brand "TOJI" Expanding into Silicon Valley Holds First Pop-up in San Francisco, Garnering High Interest in Japanese Origins (April 1, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- April 1, 2026
Japanese wellness brand "TOJI" held its first pop-up store in San Francisco, USA, in March 2026, confirming high local interest in Japanese-origin wellness products and "sake kasu" (sake lees) material. This event served as test marketing for a full-scale entry into the U.S. market.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:06
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 13:26 (492h 19m after Collected)
TOJI focuses on ingredients rooted in traditional Japanese culture and rich nature, extracting their beauty and health benefits to introduce them to the global wellness scene. In January of this year, TOJI was selected as a 4th-term co-working member (medical and healthcare sector) of the "Japan Innovation Campus (JIC)," a startup support hub established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, California), establishing its first overseas base. (Details: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000017.000162813.html)
The purpose of these pop-up stores was to serve as a first step towards full-scale expansion into the U.S. market, creating direct touchpoints with consumers and conducting business verification (test marketing) to assess how the value of Japanese-origin wellness and the ingredient "sake kasu" (sake lees) would be received by local customers.
## Event Overview
The pop-up stores were held at two select shops in the San Francisco Bay Area, each with its unique community:
**Day 1: Bernal Cutlery (San Francisco)**
**Date & Time:** March 28th, 11:00 - 14:00
**Location:** 766 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA (Mission District)
**About the Venue:** This shop specializes in high-quality Japanese knives, whetstones, and cooking tools, enjoying immense support from local chefs and food connoisseurs. The story of sake kasu, a byproduct of Japanese sake brewing, was shared with the shop's customers, who have a deep respect for Japanese "craftsmanship" and "food culture."
**Day 2: Morningtide (Albany/East Bay)**
**Date & Time:** March 29th, 11:00 - 13:00
**Location:** 847 Cornell
Keywords: Bath salts, sake kasu, USA, overseas expansion, Japanese brand, San Francisco, Japanese culture, Japanese food, POPUP, startup
FAQ
What is the name of the wellness brand expanding into Silicon Valley and who leads the company?
The wellness brand expanding into Silicon Valley is called TOJI, led by Natsuki Matsuda, the Representative Director of TOJI Co., Ltd.
When and where did TOJI hold its first pop-up stores in the United States?
TOJI held its first pop-up stores on March 28th and 29th, 2026, at Bernal Cutlery and Morningtide in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What is the significance of sake kasu in TOJI's product offerings during the pop-up events?
Sake kasu, a byproduct of Japanese sake brewing, was a key ingredient highlighted by TOJI to showcase the health and beauty benefits of traditional Japanese fermentation.
Which government-backed innovation campus in Silicon Valley selected TOJI as a co-working member in 2026?
TOJI was selected as a 4th-term co-working member of the Japan Innovation Campus (JIC) in Palo Alto, California, established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
What type of customers frequent Bernal Cutlery, and how does that align with TOJI's brand values?
Bernal Cutlery is frequented by local chefs and food connoisseurs who value Japanese craftsmanship, aligning with TOJI's emphasis on traditional Japanese culture and natural ingredients.