SHOKUNINWAZA for Tsubame.

Japan is recognized as the country of craftsmanship in the U.S.A. and European countries.

“SHOKUNINWAZA” is the term for the craftsmanship in Japanese. It leads to handing down techniques to the next generation, retaining the family run business and accomplishing its mission.

 

“SHOKUNINWAZA” in Tsubame, in the mind of “Japan Metal Flatware Industry Association” is producing, through trial and error, new values by combining creativity and originality, and striving to advance our technical skills. Notwithstanding the automation trend in the cutlery industries, we make it a rule to distribute to the marketplace only products whose production process is examined in each step with human eyes.

 


Cutlery produced at the automated factories cannot match the quality of those pressed manually piece by piece. When more precision is required, production steps are added to improve product quality.

 

Cutlery polishing has become progressively automated and semi-automatic polishers are used to complement the skills of hand polishing. However, in order to produce a finely polished product, human hands with a skilled touch are still needed. 

 

Each spoon after cleansing is visually inspected piece by piece to ensure uniform quality. Pieces finished poorly or flawed are returned to the polishing line.

 


In Tsubame, cutlery has been in production for the past one hundred years.

The photograph exhibits the inside of a factory in Tsubame around 1921. It was the place that knocked on the door of the world market.

In 1911 through the westernization of Japan, our forefathers founded the metal cutlery industry in Tsubame and distributed its products widely both in the domestic and global markets.

Particularly after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, the westernization of the major cities of Japan was accelerated and domestic demand of cutlery increased rapidly. Around 1930, Tsubame supplied metal cutlery to South East Asia, Europe, the U.S.A. , Central and South America, and Africa. 

 

Around 1950, Tsubame pioneered and became the world leader in the mass production of stainless steel cutlery. The growing exports quickly established Tsubame as the world’s supplier for the products. Starting around 1955, Tsubame has made efforts in distinguishing itself in the global market through its high quality and unique designs.

In the 1970s, the emergence of the food service industries required cutlery to meet increased durability, functionality, cleanliness, and aesthetic standards. Tsubame products already met those standards.

 


Exhibitors

ALBI

●18-8 Stainless Steel

 

TODAI CO.,LTD.

1-12 Butsuryu-Center  Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1277 Japan 

http://www.todai-tsubame.co.jp

 

 

 

ICHI

●18-10 Stainless Steel Coated with Black Titanium

 

OHIZUMI BUSSAN CO.,LTD.

151 Koseki Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1286 Japan

https://www.ohizumibussan.jp

 

 

 

EDA

●18-8 Stainless Steel Urethane Coated

 

YAMAZAKI KINZOKU KOGYO CO.,LTD.

2570 Ohmagari Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1263 Japan

http://www.yamazakitableware.co.jp

 

 

 

DELUXE

●Spoons, Forks and Knife Handles : 18-8 Stainless Steel with Satin-Finished Handles

●Knife Blades : 13-Percent Chromium and High Carbon Stainless Steel

 

TSUBAME BUSSAN CO.,LTD.

3501 Koike Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1276 Japan

https://www.tbcljp.com

 

 

 


ARTISAN

●Stainless Steel(Handle:Brass)

 

ARTISAN.LLC

417-5 Haigata Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref,959-1201 Japan

https://artisan-web.jp

 

 

 

PIERCE

●Spoons, Forks and Knife Handles: 18-8 Stainless Steel

●Knife Blade:13% Chromium and High Carbon Stainless Steel

 

KATARIKI SHOJI CO.,LTD.

1456 Kodaka Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1241 Japan 

http://www.katariki.co.jp

 

 

 

Bamboo

Spoons and Forks : 18-8 Stainless Steel

●Knife : 13% Chromium Stainless Steel

 

ASAHI CO.,LTD.

610 Tsubame Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1288 Japan 

http://www.asahi-spoon.jp

 

 

 

 

SAKS SUPER700 ZEUS

●18-12+2% Molybdenum and 0.03% Carbon Stainless Steel 

 

SAKS& COMPANY

1-11 Butsuryu-Center Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1277 Japan 

http://www.saks.co.jp

 

 

 


RYUJIN

●Blade: Specialty Steel Containing Molybdenum and Vanadium  

●Handle: 18-8 Stainless Steel

 

DAISHIN INDUSTRY CO.,LTD.

3283-1 Yoshida Nishiohta Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-0221 Japan 

http://daishinsg.com

 

 

 

PEARLLINE

●Spoons and Forks: 18-8 Stainless Steel 

●Knives: 13% Chromium Stainless Steel 

 

OKABE YOSHOKKI CO.,LTD.

3633-2 Koike Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1276 Japan 

http://www.okabeyoshokki.co.jp

 

 

 

MIRTOON

●Spoons and Forks: 18-10 Stainless Steel with Handle Blasted 

●Knife: 13% Chromium with High Carbon Stainless Steel with Blasted Handle

 

KOBAYASHI INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD.

5-11-35 Minami Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1234 Japan

https://www.luckywood.jp

 

 

 

Blanc

●18% Chromium Stainless Steel Enamel Coated

 

TAKAKUWA KINZOKU CO., LTD.

4985-12 Koike Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1276 Japan 

http://www.elfin-takakuwa.co.jp

 

 

 


AOKIRIKENKOUGYOUSYO CO.,LTD.

13-26 Suidoutyou3 Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref,959-1262 Japan

 

 

 

ARASAWA SAISAKUSYO CO.,LTD.

2-5 Suidoutyou1 Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref,959-1262 Japan

http://www.alfact.co.jp

 

 

KATO KINZOKU COMPANY

7-23 Minami-7 Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref,959-1234 Japan

 

 

 

SAITOW INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD.

1156-1 Nonaka Koseki Tsubame-city, Niigata-Pref, 959-1286 Japan

http://www.saitow.co.jp

 

 

 

SEISAKUKOUBOU TAKEDA  CO.,LTD.

11-29 Hakusanchou3 Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref,959-1251 Japan

http://www.c-takeda.com

 

 


Please direct your inquiries about the cutlery products of Tsubame or place custom orders to the following Web site.

 

JAPAN METAL FLATWARE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

6856 Higashiohta,Tsubame-City,Niigata-Pref, 959-1289 Japan

MAIL    youshokki@friend.ocn.ne.jp