IBUKI: Transforming Metal Processing into a Preferred Industry for the Next Generation

Network Co., Ltd. (President: Yusuke Kakiuchi), based in Higashiosaka, the city of metal processing, launched its consumer brand 'IBUKI' on December 1, 2025. This initiative is part of the 'April Dream' project, where companies share their dreams on April 1st.

### Our Thoughts How much do you feel the presence of 'metal processing' in your daily life? Our modern lives are supported by countless metalworking techniques, yet few people truly understand what they are. This 'disconnect in recognition' is our starting point. For example, while cars consist of tens of thousands of parts made in local factories, consumers only see the 'final product,' never the technology or the artisans behind it.

As a specialized trading company for custom metal parts, we have worked with partner factories nationwide. Encountering the passion and skills of these artisans led us to a deep respect for Japanese craftsmanship. However, low awareness and a lack of successors have led to constant closures of these vital workshops. Our mission is to transform metal processing into an 'industry that is chosen' by the next generation.

### A Challenge Toward Our Dream In mid-April 2026, we will launch a crowdfunding campaign on Makuake. Despite our daily activities on Instagram and YouTube, our reach is still limited. Through Makuake, we aim to introduce IBUKI to a wider audience. The featured product is a 'One-sip Beer Tumbler,' a collaboration between Mineyama Seiki (Kyotango, Kyoto), experts in precision machining, and Nano Create (Higashiosaka, Osaka), masters of semiconductor-grade mirror polishing. This tumbler makes beer taste mellow and stay icy cold, mimicking the famous 'triple pour' method.

### Another Founding Experience In April 2021, a sales manager at a major client told me, 'Small companies like yours should just stick to big companies like us.' That humiliation became my driving force. Most brands focus on products; few focus on 'metal processing itself.' As a trading company unburdened by specific equipment but rich in networks and respect for factories, we are uniquely positioned to open this new path.

### Brand Identity: IBUKI The name 'IBUKI' (Breath) represents the quiet power of a new flow and the moment life begins. When human skill touches inorganic metal, life is breathed into it. The logo combines the letter 'I' with the kanji for 'Person' (人), highlighting that Japanese craftsmanship originates from humans, not just machines.

### Features of IBUKI IBUKI's products are made by master craftsmen who usually work on precision parts for semiconductors and industrial machinery. We translate micron-level accuracy into products consumers can hold. Our core concept is 'SHARE THE STORY.' We want to tell you which factory and which artisan created each piece, and with what intent. By shining a spotlight on the process, we turn our dream of an 'industry chosen by the next generation' into reality.