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Tsubame: Japan 's Birthplace of Nail and Pipe Production and Present Center of Traditional Metalwork Culture Technology.
The History of the Yoshikawa Corp., Constantly Providing High-Quality Houseware

 

 

 

The city of Tsubame in Japan 's snow country of Niigata is an area of traditional local industry that is the cornerstone of metal craftsmanship.

 

The city of Tsubame in Niigata Prefecture , in which Yoshikawa Corporation is located, has prospered through the manufacture of Japanese nails since the Edo Era (1850 onwards,) and this has led to it being known as a local industrial area throughout the entire country.

The metal craft technology cultivated through the manufacture of Japanese nails evolved as time wore on, leading onto the production of tobacco pipes as smoking became more and more common, and then onto the production of copper pots and pans, which are formed through beating (hammering) in the age-old manner. It also resulted in the manufacture of pokers that are used in Hibachi (charcoal braziers) in order to distribute heat, and this transition across to metalware technology that is used in everyday household situations was constantly improved through trial and error.

Having built up excessive experience over the course of time and moved onto the manufacture and export of Western-style metal kitchenware, we then began to manufacture metal houseware, such as pots and kettles, as a new branch of the industry in the period following 1945. Our extremely high levels of traditional craftsmanship and productivity led to us becoming famous throughout the country as a local industrial area, and this developed even further until it resulted in the establishment of a nationwide industrial union.

 

In the modern era our position as the cornerstone of stainless steel and other metal alloy processing that has inherited Japan's oldest traditional levels of craftsmanship is firmly established, and we stand by our conviction to continue with these policies no matter how products and materials change with the passage of time.

Yoshikawa Corp., which has journeyed hand-in-hand with the city of Tsubame on its quest to earning the reputation as an area of traditional metal craftsmanship, has contributed greatly to cultivating the town into a local industrial area, and it is our full intention to continue creating products under the concept of using refined stainless steel processing technology to produce high-quality and safe products and to cater to all of our customers' requirements.

 
The History of Tsubame's Traditional Metal Processing Industry Cultivated over Approximately 300 Years
Date Location Transition
1336 Sanjo Foundry workers move to Sanjo from Kawachi-nokuni province (currently Osaka Prefecture).
1471 Sanjo The foundry workers of Sanjo produce a gong and donate it to the Hachimangu Shrine. It is later designated as a cultural treasure for the city of Sanjo.
1625 Tsubame/Sanjo The Edo Shogunate encourages the peasants to manufacture Japanese nails.
1657 Tsubame/Sanjo Tsubame prospers through manufacturing Japanese nails owing to the Great Fire of Edo.
1661 Sanjo Methods of manufacturing saws and hatchets are introduced from the Aizu district (currently Fukushima Prefecture).
1670 Sanjo Agricultural blacksmithing thrives.
1673 Sanjo Saw blacksmithing thrives.
1688 Tsubame The manufacture of threshers (later known as grain sorters) and fanning mills begins in Koike.
1688 Tsubame The manufacture of files (rasps) begins in Tsubame.
1764 Tsubame Hammer-beating technology is passed to Tsubame from Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. The manufacture of hammered copper pots begins.
1781 Sanjo The manufacture of metal carpenters' squares begins around this time.
1795 Tsubame The manufacture of hinges begins. The same craftsman later produces brush and ink cases.
1818 Sanjo The area prospers through the manufacture of metal doornails, sickles, knives and scissors.
1830 Sanjo The manufacture of copper pyrite carpenters' squares begins.
1831 Sanjo Contracts based on commercial dealing are established between people in the metal business.
1844 Sanjo The manufacture of padlocks begins.
1861 Sanjo Copper carpenters' squares are completed.
1887 Tsubame Copper implements thrive around this period owing to the establishment of copper utensil unions, etc. The abolishment of nail forging also advances, and ash spatulas and pokers are manufactured.
1890 Tsubame The Tsubame File Manufacturers' Union is established.
1899 Tsubame Metal plating technology used in calligraphic brushes is transferred across to pipe manufacturing around this time.
1904 Sanjo The padlock manufacturing industry, lathe polishing industry and plating industry start up.
1906 Tsubame The Tsubame Pipe Union is established.
1910 Sanjo The Sanjo Metal Works Union is established.
1911 Tsubame The manufacture of high-class Western kitchenware is started for special orders.
1914 Tsubame The manufacture of regular forks and spoons begins. The copper utensil industry declines due to massive increases in the price of copper, and business moves across to the manufacture of Western kitchenware.
1915 Tsubame The use of metal molds for manufacturing forks is proposed, and this enables the manufacture of thick-handled dessert forks.
1915 Tsubame Machine-polishing with the use of buffing begins. The plating industry breaks away and becomes independent.
1916 Sanjo The First World War boosts the export of padlocks and knives.
1918 Tsubame The Tsubame Polishers' Union is established. The manufacture of pipes using machines and chrome plating achieve success around this time.
1919 Tsubame The Tsubame File Workers' Union is established.
1926 Tsubame The Tsubame Western Kitchenware Workers' Union is established.
1934 Sanjo Sanjo is designated as a city.
1935 Sanjo The manufacture of pliers begins based on forging technology.
1938 Tsubame The Tsubame Pipe Industry Union is established. Brass is used instead of metal owing to restrictions on the use of copper initiated in this year, and stainless steel products experience heightened demand.
1940 Tsubame The Sanjo Chamber of Commerce and Industry is established.
1945 Tsubame Tsubame received an order to make kitchenware for twenty-thousand US army personnel and their families.
1945 Tsubame The manufacture of kitchenware utilizing scrap stainless steel that was originally used in the periscopes of submarines begins.
1949 Tsubame The Tsubame Chamber of Commerce and Industry is established.
1954 Tsubame Tsubame is designated as a city.
1958 Tsubame The Japan Association of Exported Metal Used in the Kitchenware Industry is inaugurated.
1964 Tsubame The Japan Associated of Exported Metal Used in the Houseware Industry is established.
1973 Tsubame The Tsubame Union of Commercial Estates is established.
1980 Sanjo Sanjo Buddhist altar making is designated as a traditional craft in accordance with the Traditional Industries act.
1981 Tsubame The making of Tsubame beaten copper vessels is designated as a traditional craft in accordance with the Traditional Industries Act.

 

 
The History of Yoshikawa Corporation's Contribution to Establishing Tsubame as a Local Industrial Area
 

Yoshikawa Corporation was established in 1946 as the Yoshikawa-Metal Co., Ltd. and started on its journey to supply the industrial area of Tsubame with stainless steel and other metal materials.

The company then expanded its interests to not only sell stainless steel and other metals, but also produce stainless steel kitchen implements, and this resulted in the company being split into separate entities and triggered the establishment of the Yoshikawa Factory Co., Ltd. , which helped the company establish a system that covered everything from the production of metal materials to the manufacture of processed products. This heralded the beginning of the present Yoshikawa Group.

With Tsubame's transition to the development and manufacture of stainless steel houseware, the Yoshikawa Group also began manufacturing houseware. This resulted in the establishment of the Yoshikawa Metalware Co., Ltd .

Having decided that we wanted to provide the highest quality products to as many people as possible, we also established the Yoshikawa Sales Co., Ltd. to handle the sales of our houseware and inaugurated a total production system centering on the manufacture of stainless steel, and this helped the Yoshikawa Group expand by leaps and bounds and contributed greatly to the development of Tsubame as a local industrial area.

The Yoshikawa Factory Co., Ltd., the Yoshikawa Metalware Co., Ltd. and the Yoshikawa Sales Co., Ltd. has since been amalgamated into the Yoshikawa Corporation, and together with the Yoshikawa-Metal Co., Ltd. continues to manufacture products that fully satisfy our customers while creating an overall system of administration that covers everything from the development of metal materials through to the development, manufacture and sale of pots, pans, kettles and other houseware.

 
The History of Yoshikawa corporation
Year Showa Transition
1946 21 Yoshikawa Metal Co., Ltd. established and commences operations. Business started with Nippon Stainless Steel Kozai Co., Ltd.
1948 23 Yoshikawa Metal Co., Ltd. establishes a branch in Tokyo, and the Plant Department is newly established.
1952 27 The Factory Department splits away from Yoshikawa Metal Co., Ltd, and the Yoshikawa Factory (currently known as the Yoshikawa Corp. #1 Plant) is newly established.
1953 28 Business started with the Nippon Metal Industry Corporation.
1954 29 Business started with the Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Japan Steel.)
1956 31 Business started with the Nippon Steel Corporation (formerly known as the Yawata Steel Corporation.)
1958 33 Founding president, Yukimatsu Yoshikawa, heads to America to protest against restrictions on the import of metal kitchenware.
1959 34 Building constructed in Hatchobori, Tokyo.
1962 37 The Yoshikawa Factory is completed (currently known as the Yoshikawa Corp. #2 Plant) and an overall administrative system is established.
1964 39 The Yoshikawa Sales Co., Ltd. (currently known as the Yoshikawa Corp. Head Office) is newly established.
1967 42 The Yoshikawa Factory's Yoshida Plant is completed (later known as Yoshikawa Metalware Co., Ltd.) Starts operations as an exclusive kitchenware manufactory.
1967 42 President Sessho Yoshikawa is recognized for his contribution to local industry, and awarded the Medal with Blue Ribbon.
1971 46 Yoshikawa Metalware Co., Ltd. (currently known as the Yoshikawa Corp. #3 Plant) is newly established.
1973 48 Yoshikawa Corporation moves to a new location. A large warehouse is constructed.
1975 50 Development of metal-core cladding with explosion-bonding carried out together with Asahi Kasei and Japan Steel Works Ltd. is successful. Business in Yoshikawa metals is started. The Yoshikawa Factory commences development of pots that use cladding at the same time.
1976 51 Prima Inc. is newly established.
1978 53 President Yukimatsu Yoshikawa is awarded Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays in recognition of his many years of service.
1979 54 Yoshikawa Corp. markets the first pots made from metal-core cladding under the name of the Cook Pal Collection.
1980 55 Yoshikawa Corp. receives the Good Design Award for its Cook Pal Collection.
1981 56 Yoshikawa Corp. builds an extension to its #2 Plant.
1982 57 President Yukimatsu Yoshikawa passes away suddenly. Yoshiyuki Yoshikawa is appointed president and takes over control of the entire Yoshikawa Group.
1982 57 Former president Yukimatsu Yoshikawa is posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure with Gold Rays and Rosette for his service.
1983 58 Asahi Kasei and the Japan Steel Works separate and create two sales routes. Yoshikawa Corp. fails to win the right to receive deliveries or sell steel from the Japan Steel Works.
1984 59 Sumitomo Metal Industries and Yoshikawa Corp. develop a metal-core five-layer structure that uses nickel foil in a joint development project. All sales rights are awarded to Yoshikawa Corp.
1984 59 Material used in the Cook Pall Collection is changed to the metal-core five-layer structure.
1985 60 Prima Inc. moves to the Yoshikawa Building in Tokyo's Hatchobori.
1989 Heisei
1991 3 The Yoshikawa Factory, the Yoshikawa Metalware Co., Ltd. and the Yoshikawa Sales Co., Ltd. amalgamated into the Yoshikawa Corporation.
1996 8 Yoshikawa Corp. develops and commences the sale of the Power Cook Series that uses aluminum cladding manufactured with NAR-160 developed by Sumitomo Metal Industries. This series receives the Good Design Award in October of the same year.
1998 10 Yoshikawa Corporation's Tsubame administration department moves to Yahiko as the company's head office.
1999 11 Yoshikawa Corporation's #1 Plant, #2 Plant and #3 Plant acquire the ISO9001 certification.
2001 13 Yoshikawa Corporation's head office acquires the ISO9001 certification.
2001 13 Yoshikawa Corporation's ISO9001 certification is backdated to the year 2000.
2003 15 Yoshikawa Metalworks Co., Ltd. is awarded the ISO9001 certification.
2004 16 Yoshikawa Corp. markets the Cook Pal Prime series that uses metal-core five-layer structure material. This series receives the Good Design Award and the Long Life Design Award in October of the same year.
2006 18 President Yoshiyuki Yoshikawa passes away suddenly. Tsutomu Yoshikawa is appointed president and takes over control of the entire Yoshikawa Group.
2006 18 President Yoshiyuki Yoshikawa is posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun for his services.
 
Yoshikawa Corporation
Head Office: Ohdo-Danchi, Yahiko Niigata-Pref. 959-0308
Tokyo Branch: 2F, Ryogoku-Sanwa Bldg., No.21-4, 4-Chome, Ryogoku, Sumida-Ku, Tokyo, Japan 130-0026
 
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