Although tansu is often used as a general term for Japanese furniture, it actually means chest or container. The broad use of the term tansu is understandable when one considers the wide variety of uses associated with Japanese tansu, including tansu used as money safes and document safes, dressers, wardrobes, shoe cabinets, bedding chests, linen cabinets, cabinets to store objects of the tea ceremony, kitchen cabinets, food cabinets, book shelves and ship's chests. For examples, check out our online catalog.

Kiku is the Japanese word for chrysanthemum.

The Kiku Imports showroom is at 1420 Sutter Street in San Francisco, about four blocks from Japan town.

We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Please see our contact page for e-mail, phone numbers, etc.

All of our tansu are shipped directly from Japan.

The terms "tansu" and "dansu" are really the same word. When "tansu" is used together with another word, the "t" becomes a "d", resulting in "dansu".

If you are interested in purchasing an item from our online catalog, please contact us via e-mail, phone, fax or mail. Since shipping costs vary by item and shipping location, we will be happy to get shipping quotes for you.

The online catalog is updated at least once daily. This means that almost all of the items are available at any given time.

All of our tansu receive comprehensive refinishing, including repair of hardware, wood and restoration of the wood finish. Most of the tansu are 70-120+ years old, so they all have some patina of wear even after refinishing.

Residents of California are required to pay 9.5% sales tax.

Most of the tansu were made between 1870 and 1930. Some of them look new because they have been refinished.

Kiku Imports welcomes wholesale customers. Please contact us for more information.

We can arrange shipping just about anywhere.

Shipping costs vary greatly according to destination and size of shipment. We are happy to get quotes for a specific item to your area.

Smaller items will be shipped via U.P.S. We use several international freight companies to handle larger shipments.

Of course!

For out of state purchases, you may return an item within one week of receipt and we will give you a refund check. Please contact us immediately if there is any problem with your purchase. All refunds will be issued via company check. However, customer will incur all shipping costs.