Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Surpasses 100 Billion Yen in Sales; Launches New 'Growth Investment for Craft Manufacturers' Business

Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Nara City, Nara Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Aya Sengoku), a long-established company founded in 1716, reported net sales of 10.32 billion yen for the fiscal year ending February 2025, a 12% increase year-on-year. This marks the first time the company has surpassed 100 billion yen in sales, achieving record-high performance for the fourth consecutive fiscal year.

Furthermore, to further realize its corporate vision of 'Energizing Japanese Crafts!', the company will launch a new business, 'Growth Investment for Craft Manufacturers,' starting in fiscal year 2026. As the first initiative of this new business, the company has entered into a capital and business alliance with Shitsurindo Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Toru Uchida), a lacquerware workshop founded in 1793. The equity stake is less than 10%.
This alliance aims to strengthen Shitsurindo's management base by enhancing its production system, recruiting personnel, and opening directly-managed stores in urban areas. Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten will leverage its accumulated expertise in management and branding to drive the next phase of growth for Echizen lacquerware craftsmanship.

Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten was founded in 1716 as a linen fabric wholesaler and currently operates primarily as a manufacturer and retailer of lifestyle goods rooted in Japanese crafts. Under the vision of 'Energizing Japanese Crafts!', the company has provided management consulting to over 60 craft manufacturers nationwide since 2009. Through educational seminars and distribution support, it has supported the growth of over 700 production area manufacturers. The company views this journey not merely as its own business growth, but as evidence that crafts are being passed down and remain essential in modern life.

However, the company acknowledges that its efforts to connect crafts to the future are still halfway. The production value of craft-producing regions has declined to approximately one-fifth of its peak (according to the Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association). For these regions to continue sustainable manufacturing, strengthening their management foundations—including business succession, financing, production capacity expansion, human resource recruitment, and organizational development—is essential. Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten is deepening its previous management consulting approach by launching this new business that combines capital, human resources, and management support for growth investment.

Crafts are not merely something to be preserved. Skilled artisans need to increase production bases, hire people, create new products, and expand sales channels. The company's new challenge is to bring the necessary capital, human resources, and management resources as a community with a shared vision to support this growth, thereby connecting crafts to Japan's future 100 years from now.

Achieving Record Performance: 10.32 Billion Yen in Sales

The growth in the fiscal year ending February 2025 was driven by the core manufacturing and retail business. Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten currently operates 67 stores nationwide, with four flagship stores: Nara Main Store, Shibuya Store, Takanawa Store, and Tenjin Store.

In product development, the company has launched initiatives that introduce the appeal of crafts through new entry points, such as the 'Kashiyuka Shoten' project with Perfume's Kashiyuka in March 2025, and a collaboration between crafts and the official Osaka-Kansai Expo character 'Myaku-Myaku' in April 2025. Furthermore, the kitchenware and tableware category, which includes recently developed products like the 'one-person clay pot' and 'Japanese tableware,' achieved 125% sales compared to the previous year. The decorative items category, represented by Hina dolls, also saw significant growth, reaching 124% of the previous year's sales.
As a result of these efforts, the number of regular members surpassed 1 million in March 2026. Lifestyle tools rooted in crafts are steadily becoming more prevalent in daily life.

Capital and Business Alliance: First Partner is Shitsurindo of Fukui's Echizen Lacquerware

Shitsurindo is a craft manufacturer rooted in the 'Echizen lacquerware' production area, known as a major hub for commercial lacquerware. It has inherited lacquering techniques for over 230 years across eight generations. Building on traditional lacquerware making, the company has been working to expand lacquerware into modern life by developing 'dishwasher-safe lacquer' through industry-academia-government collaboration and training four lacquerers in their 20s and 30s (as of June 2026). In 2024, it invested in wood base manufacturing equipment and hired wood base craftsmen, taking steps to expand the production infrastructure essential for the region's sustainability.

The company's vision is 'To continue lacquering for the next 100 years.' Achieving this requires not only preserving techniques but also nurturing people, expanding production capabilities, and building a business where lacquerware continues to be chosen in modern life. Through this alliance, Shitsurindo's technology and region-rooted manufacturing will be combined with Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten's expertise in product development, sales channels, branding, and management support. Together, they aim for the sustainable business growth of Echizen lacquerware by expanding production systems, recruiting personnel, and strengthening management foundations. Specifically, they will jointly develop a 'Shitsurindo' store format in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, aiming to open stores during the fiscal year ending March 2028.

Comment from Toru Uchida, President and Representative Director of Shitsurindo Co., Ltd.

Our relationship with Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten dates back to the first joint exhibition 'Dainippon-shi' in 2011. Now grown to over 100 exhibitors, 'Dainippon-shi' started with just three companies. Since then, we have collaborated for over 15 years through management consulting and the development of OEM products like 'dishwasher-safe lacquer bowls.' Through this journey, visiting each other's production areas and companies, we have built a relationship that goes beyond a mere business partnership.

Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten is not just a company that sells products; it is a company that has honed its planning, distribution, and branding capabilities while looking ahead to the future of production areas and artisans. They deeply resonate with Shitsurindo's vision of 'continuing to lacquer for the next 100 years,' and I believe they are a partner that will help us move forward with our future challenges.

Shitsurindo has also worked to nurture its business through trial and error, focusing on vertical integration within the production area, training young artisans, and building a brand, not just inheriting traditions. This capital and business alliance is not merely about preserving tradition. It is a challenge to evolve the production area and the lacquerware industry into the next era. I look forward to the new challenges and growth opportunities this partnership will bring.

Shitsurindo Co., Ltd.
Business: Manufacturing and sales of Echizen lacquerware (commercial lacquerware, own brands, OEM production)
Headquarters: 701 Nishibukuro-cho, Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture
Founded: 1793
President and Representative Director: Toru Uchida
Website: https://shitsurindo.com/

Comment from Aya Sengoku, President and Representative Director of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Co., Ltd.

The environment surrounding craft production areas is becoming increasingly severe due to issues like the lack of successors, rising labor costs, securing raw materials, and maintaining supply chains. Even when artisans want to create good products, continuing to make them is becoming difficult. The question now is not just 'the power to sell,' but how to preserve 'the power to make' for the future.

Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten has walked alongside production areas through sales channel development and product development. However, to connect crafts to the next 100 years, we feel the need to take a further step and grow the businesses themselves together with manufacturers who share our aspirations.

We have built a relationship with Shitsurindo for over 15 years, since the beginning of 'Dainippon-shi.' We deeply empathize with their commitment to continue challenging themselves, looking ahead not only to their own company's growth but also to the future of lacquer and the entire production area, under their vision of 'continuing to lacquer for the next 100 years.'