“Handmade wood-turned products that connect the people who make them and use them”
You can see Mount Fuji, a national symbol of Japan, from anywhere in Shizuoka Prefecture. A group of young craftsmen established a small factory called “Hikimonojo 639” in the mountains and began to create all things round—plates, bowls and furniture legs—using woodworking and wood-turning lathes.
Shifting to mass production by converting manual operations to mechanized systems, Shizuoka began exporting wood-turned products such as pepper grinders to the United States. In the 1960s, Shizuoka became the largest producer of wood-turned products and factories in Shizuoka Prefecture were exporting eighty percent of their products. There were many wood-turning craftsmen in Shizuoka decades ago, but when the trend to produce a variety of products in small quantities gained popularity, then many of them changed their occupation.
Their craftsmen are inexperienced but are working hard every day to improve their techniques by adopting innovative technology. Their goal is to carefully create products by hand and not to simply remain complacent with what is currently on the market.
By appreciating what they have and listening to their customers, they will keep moving forward. They will never be afraid to try new concepts. They carefully create products to bring out the unique qualities in each piece of wood.