Brooklyn Made Debuts First Tokyo Pop-Up at Taisho University
- The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is expanding its Brooklyn Made initiative internationally with the launch of its first retail pop-up in Tokyo, Japan.
- The installation will be located on the Sugamo Ekimae Shopping Street and is scheduled to run through July 12, 2026.
- The Tokyo pop-up is presented in partnership with Taisho University.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is expanding its Brooklyn Made
initiative internationally with the launch of its first retail pop-up in Tokyo, Japan. Beginning April 24, 2026, the project will establish a three-month presence in the Sugamo district, bringing a curated selection of artwork and goods from New York City makers to the Japanese market.
The installation will be located on the Sugamo Ekimae Shopping Street and is scheduled to run through July 12, 2026. This international venture marks the first time the Brooklyn Made program, which was founded in 2023 to showcase local makers, has operated outside of the New York borough.
Partnership and Student Involvement
The Tokyo pop-up is presented in partnership with Taisho University. As part of the collaboration, students from the university will manage the day-to-day operations of the store. These students, who already possess experience managing a retail space on their own campus, will be responsible for tasks including customer engagement, and merchandising.
Randy Peers, the President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, stated that the goal for the organization is to test the market for Brooklyn culture and products within Japan. For Taisho University, the initiative serves as a real-life learning opportunity for students and an effort to reposition the Sugamo area as a hip, up and coming destination
.
Retail and Gallery Layout
The pop-up occupies a two-level space designed to function as both a retail shop and an art gallery. The ground floor is dedicated to a retail selection of Brooklyn-made goods, which includes apparel, jewelry, home goods, accessories, baby pieces, puzzles, and totes.
The second floor will operate as a gallery featuring the work of several Brooklyn-based artists, including:
- Voodo Fé
- Claudia Pearson
- Adam Suerte (also identified as Max Adam Gould)
- Miki Mu
- Alicia Degener
To further the cultural exchange, the store will offer exclusive items created specifically for the Tokyo location. These include a custom Maptote featuring a map of Sugamo and a special notebook produced by Natchie.
Cultural Context of Sugamo
The choice of Sugamo as the location is significant due to the neighborhood’s reputation for a strong sense of community, tradition, and culture. Often referred to as Grandma’s Harajuku
, Sugamo is known for its emphasis on wellness and close-knit community spirit.
The initiative is described as a cultural exchange intended to connect Brooklyn to Japan through storytelling, design, and community. The project aims to blend the two cultures to assist in the revitalization and development of the Sugamo area.
The Brooklyn Made initiative has functioned as a platform for showcasing local makers since its inception in 2023, and the Tokyo installation represents a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy.