HAKATA TAKUMI KOUGEI

Hakata Takumi Kougei Co., Ltd. is a Japanese company that manufactures and sells woven textiles using traditional techniques in Fukuoka Prefecture, one of Japan's three major obi-producing regions. It produces Hakata-ori obi as well as pictorial woven works such as Hakata-Eori, and also operates the men's kimono specialty store 'Ginza SAMURAI'. The company is part of the Nihon Waso Holdings Group.

The company's corporate history traces to June 1955, when Takimoto Silk Weaving Co., Ltd. was established in Shingu-machi, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, engaging in Hakata-ori manufacturing and joining the Hakata-ori Industrial Association. In April 1962 the factory moved to Nishikicho 2-chome, Ono-machi, Chikushi-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, and in July 1980 a new factory was built and relocated to Nakahata 2-chome, Ono-jo City, Fukuoka Prefecture. In August 1990, succeeding the factory equipment and employees, Takumi Kougei Co., Ltd. was established as an affiliate of the Hakata-ori production-area wholesaler Goto Co., Ltd., continuing its Hakata-ori Industrial Association membership. In July 1991 the design and weaving divisions were computerized. In March 2007 Nihon Waso Wholesalers Co., Ltd. was established in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, and in July 2007 the head office moved to Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. In February 2009, following the bankruptcy of Goto Co., Ltd., the company succeeded Takumi Kougei Co., Ltd.'s factory equipment and employees and began Hakata-ori manufacturing; in March 2009 it joined the Hakata-ori Textile Cooperative (now the Traditional Silk Weaving Production Area Cooperative). In March 2011 the head office moved to Onojo City, Fukuoka Prefecture. In March 2012 Nihon Waso Wholesalers Co., Ltd. changed its trade name to Hakata Takumi Kougei Co., Ltd. In April 2014 it joined the Hakata-ori Industrial Association and opened men's kimono specialty stores 'SAMURAI' in Tokyo Ginza and Kyoto Gion; in July 2014 it listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange TOKYO PRO Market. In September 2016 the hand-woven fukuro obi 'Paisley Kando' won the Fukuoka Prefectural Traditional Crafts Promotion Council Chairman's Award at the 40th Fukuoka Prefectural Traditional Crafts Exhibition. In July 2017 it exhibited Hakata-Eori works including a Choju-giga folding screen at Japan Expo in Paris, France, and in November 2017 at Hyper Japan in London, UK; also in November 2017 'Yasabee Kando' won the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 115th Hakata-ori Review. In April 2018, according to Yano Research Institute, it achieved first place in domestic production volume of Hakata-ori fukuro obi for fiscal 2017; in May 2018 'Yasabee Kando' won the Prime Minister's Award at the 62nd New Hakata-ori Exhibition; in June 2018 it donated a Hakata-Eori Choju-jinbutsu-giga folding screen to the Victoria and Albert Museum, UK; in October 2018 the 'SAMURAI' Kyoto store closed; in November 2018 'Yukiwake Kenjo' won the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President's Award at the 116th Hakata-ori Review; in December 2018 a commemorative exhibition for the 777th anniversary of Hakata-ori was held at the Japanese Embassy in the UK. In April 2019 it delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange TOKYO PRO Market; in July 2019 it concluded a share exchange agreement with Nihon Waso Holdings Co., Ltd.; in September 2019 it dedicated a Tokugawa Ieyasu historical weave to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine; and in October 2019 it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nihon Waso Holdings Co., Ltd. through a share exchange (October 1).

Manufacturer of traditional Hakata-ori textiles preserving inherited techniques while pursuing new challenges.

• Hakata-ori obi

  Traditional Hakata-ori woven obi produced using inherited techniques.

• Hakata-Eori

  Pictorial woven works including historical and Japanese-history weaves.

1. 1博多織の製造・販売 | はかた匠工芸takumikougei.jp
2. 2はかた匠工芸とは | はかた匠工芸takumikougei.jp
3. 3会社概要 | はかた匠工芸takumikougei.jp