When you look around you, a towel is usually nearby. However, different kinds of towels have different purposes and usages. Including the popular, recently developed ones made of organic cotton or woven in the shape of waffle gauze, there are no less than thousands of towel products on the market.

These days, people are interested in products that are not harmful to the environment or health, or are unsafe. Towel manufacturers are also expected to address these concerns.

Because there are so many kinds of towel products, it is natural that customers want to know how one brand is different from others and how to best use them. Therefore, we are creating an environment where customers can choose the towels they really want and need.

Thus, we Imabari Towel makers have decided to create towel sommeliers to advise customers how to choose the towels that best fit their needs.

The qualifying exam of a Towel Sommelier is designed to certify advisors who can help customers choose which towel products meet their various needs and tastes and ensures the sommelier understands the whole process of towel-making, from selecting materials through to the finished product.

For the customers, this will ensure they buy products that best meet their needs.

For the towel makers, it will be possible to learn about and satisfy customers’ changing needs and expectations.

For the retailers, it will be possible to adapt the environment of the shop to the customers’ point of view.

The first qualifying exam of Towel Sommelier took place in September, 2007.

Since then, 338 Towel Sommeliers have been certified in Japan.

The number of successful candidates: 187 people (57 from Tokyo, 40 from Osaka, 90 from Imabari)
The percentage of passing scores: 66% (65% of applicants from Tokyo, 59% from Osaka, 70% from Imabari)

The number of applicants: 303 people (94 from Tokyo, 72 from Osaka, 137 from Imabari)
The number of examinees: 284 people (88 from Tokyo, 68 from Osaka, 128 from Imabari)
The number of absentees: 19 people (6 from Tokyo, 4 from Osaka, 9 from Imabari)

The number of successful candidates: 151 people (57 from Tokyo, 39 from Osaka, 55 from Imabari)
The percentage of passing scores: 72 % (72% of applicants from Tokyo, 80% from Osaka, 68% from Imabari)

The number of applicants: 229 people (93 from Tokyo, 49 from Osaka, 87 from Imabari)
The number of examinees: 209 people (79 from Tokyo, 49 from Osaka, 81 from Imabari)
The number of absentees: 20 people (14 from Tokyo, 0 from Osaka, 6 from Imabari)

The number of successful candidates: 107 people (54 from Tokyo, 24 from Osaka, 29 from Imabari)
The percentage of passing scores: 47 % (45% of applicants from Tokyo, 38% from Osaka, 66% from Imabari)

The number of applicants: 254 people (134 from Tokyo, 72 from Osaka, 48 from Imabari)
The number of examinees: 227 people (120 from Tokyo, 63 from Osaka, 44 from Imabari)
The number of absentees: 27 people (14 from Tokyo, 9 from Osaka, 4 from Imabari)

> The application procedure for the 3rd qualifying exam of Towel Sommelier can be seenhere.