NOUSAKU: Flexible ware? Great Japanese Craftmanship
My parents' birthdays are coming up this month and I am considering to present them a special Japanese craftman art this year. Have you heard of NOUSAKU brand? I had a chance to do some research on this company at work and I would like to share about their wonderful work. It is becoming a huge hit both domestically and internationally.
NOUSAKU produces flat, bendable pieces that could easily be bent into shape by users. It is sold under the name of flexible ware. Their comtemporary designs are all very stylish and cool.
They use 100% pure tin for their production. It is common to add other metallic materials to provide durability and facilitate cutting work, but NOUSAKU uses tin without such additives. Innovating a range of inspired items, Nousaku challenged the common notion that 100% pure tin is unsuitable for tableware. They developed special molds of silicon to produce pure tin items with a superb texture that can easily be bent by hand. Accumulated experience of skilled craftsmen enables them to produce these unique items. You can see Mr.Katsuji Nousaku, President and CEO of Nosaku Corporation speaking about such technique here. See how he stretches the flat metal - Very interesting!!
NOUSAKU's pure tin products are reaching out the whole world through a number of international trade fairs. Nousaku himself became a super hero in Takaoka City with many companies trying to imitate his success, however he remains very modest. He doesn't want NOUSAKU to stand alone as the only successful business in the area - he sincerely wants all the other local companies to have their share of success, too. You can tell his gentle personality from how he speaks on the video too.
They opened the "NOUSAKU" store and Tokyo office inside Palace Hotel Tokyo in 2012 and several major department stores such as Mitsukoshi and Matsuya Ginza. Their work can be a great souvenior of Japanese craftmanship!
*NOUSAKU received the Jury's Special Award in the 1st "The Most Valuable Japanese Company Award" in 2011. The company winned the METI Minister Awards in the 5th “Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Award”in 2013.
EmiOnishi
Japan
