Imported cut flowers are handled through trading firms close to airports. The largest of these is Classic Japan. Importers such as Allied, Bankoko, Flora International, Florimex, YMS, Sunburst, and Toa Trading are also significant, and there are two dozen other large importers, including some well-known Japanese trading companies. All of these trading firms sell the imported flowers to the wholesale markets or to mass marketers. The function of the Japanese wholesale flower market is to collect product from agricultural cooperatives or flower distribution and production associations and sell to retailers and secondary wholesalers.
Imports supplement domestic production, and distribution is through the same mechanism.
At this time, the auctions receive imported flowers from trading firms, although importing directly is being considered for the future. Ninety percent of cut flowers are sold to the public through specialized retail florists. In 1993, MAFF estimated supermarkets had 2 percent of the retail market, but their share has increased since then. Supermarket sales were estimated by one large importer as already having reached 15 percent of the total market. Although the rigorous zero-tolerance phytosanitary inspection procedures for flower imports were simplified in 1992, inferior product is still likely to be rejected.