For Mother's Day, Gift 130 Years of Tradition and 'Thank You': Kakogawa City, a Leading Japanese Production Area, Promotes a New Habit of Gifting Socks for Well-being

Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture, is a leading sock production area in Japan, with approximately 70% of the prefecture's manufacturing businesses concentrated there. The city is promoting a 'Kakogawa Socks Gifting Culture' campaign for Mother's Day on May 10 and Father's Day on June 21. This campaign, inspired by students from Kakogawa Higashi High School, aims to spread the culture of gifting Kakogawa socks to express gratitude. Kakogawa's sock manufacturing began in 1886 (Meiji 19) when a resident brought a hand-cranked sock knitting machine from Shanghai. Over 130 years, it has developed into a representative industry of the Harima region. The city actively supports this local industry through various initiatives, including large-scale PR at JR Kakogawa Station, collaboration with the Hyogo Prefectural Horse Racing Association for a special race, hosting the '29th Sock Festival' every November, and exhibiting at events like the '38th Himeji National Pottery Fair' to expand its fan base.