The charm of the hemp palm tawashi (hemp palm tawashi)

Tawashi” is a familiar household product used in our daily lives. Takada Kozo Shoten’s tawashi are made from hemp palm trees produced in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture, and manufactured by craftsmen with great care, and were awarded the Good Design Award in 2020. In this issue, we will introduce Takada Kouzo Shoten and their products, which are one of the few companies in Japan that make tawashi from hemp palm fibers while respecting tradition.

Takada Kouzo Shoten

Takada Kozo Shoten is a company that processes hemp palms and manufactures daily necessities.1948, the firstpresident,Kozo Takada,founded the company inKainan City, Wakayama Prefecture,and started manufacturing hand towels.

Since the development of the “Cherry” shoe-washing scrubbing brush in1965, the company has been developing a wide range of products from body-washing to cleaning products to makethe hemp palm scrubbing brush more familiar to the users.

Furthermore,in ordertorevivethe hemp palmsproduced inWakayama Prefecture, whichfell into disuse about 70 years ago,we aredoing everything in-housefrom tending to the mountains, collecting thepalms,processing theminto fiber, manufacturing, and inspecting the products.

Raw material for tawashi (a type of hemp palm)

The hemp palm is one of the few plants of the palm family in Japan. It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and is characterized by its drooping leaves. The bark that wraps around the trunk becomes fiber, which is tough, water-resistant, and corrosion-resistant. Despite its sturdy nature, it is gentle to the touch and is used as a raw material for household goods such as scrubbing brushes and brooms, contributing to the industrial development of Kainan City and the Nogamidani region. It is also used for building materials, food, and many other purposes.

The Palm Palm Industry and New Challenges

The hemp palm industry developed during the Edo period (1603-1867), when craftsmen made a living weaving ropes with hemp palms. However, in the Showa period (1926-1989), the number of craftsmen aged and domestic hemp palms disappeared, and the number of hemp palms produced in Japan declined sharply. Fearing the extinction of his long history, Kozo Takada took over the business from the craftsmen and has continued to protect it since its establishment in 1948.

While many manufacturers use hemp palms from overseas and machine production is increasing,Takada Kozo Shoten is the only company in Japanthat handles the entire process of making hemppalms, from tending the mountains to gathering the materialsandmanufacturing thepalmsby themselves, with the cooperation of local people.The founder, Kozo Takada,grew up inKainan City and theold NogamiValley, and because he values the hemp palm industry, he is particular about the materials, tradition, and attitude toward manufacturing.

Three recommended products

Kozo Takada Shoten sells a wide range of tawashi, from household daily-use products to straps. We introduce three of our recommended products from among our many offerings.

Shuro no Yasashii Tawashi (gentle trowel) for zukes

Shuro no Yasashii Tawashi for Zook”, made for washing shoes, sneakers, sandals, and other footwear, is a product that Takada Kozo Shoten has a special attachment to.

In 1965, Kozo Takada, the first president of the company, invented and sold the “Cherry” shoe brush. The product, which created a shoe brush with a handle attached to a scrubbing brush, took the world by storm and was sold to many people.

The angle between the tawashi and the handle makes it easy to wash, and the gentle palm bristles scrub away mud and dust that tends to remain in the corners.

Shuro no Yasashii Tawashi Musubi

Winner of the 2020 Good Design Award, “Shuro no Yasashii Tawashi Musubi” is made of two round tawashi tied together so that the crossed parts catch your fingers, making it easy to hold as if you were holding a ball.

The tawashi usually have exposed wires, but by concealing the wires, pots and vessels can be cleaned without damaging them. In addition to cleaning products, it is also ideal for washing vegetables. By gently scrubbing vegetables with a water-dipped scrubber, you can remove only the mud, leaving the skins intact. This is a great way to enjoy vegetables with their skins intact, making them more nutritious and reducing food waste.

Tawashi (scrubbing brush) strap / Charm Tawashi

Takada Kozo Shoten has been selling “Tawashi Strap / Charm Tawashi” since 2004 to make the hemp palm tawashi more familiar to people. A skilled tawashi maker said, “It’s impossible to make it any smaller than this! says a skilled tawashi craftsman. It has also appeared in the popular manga “Yotsuba! The character in the manga “Yotsuba! A character in the manga commented, “It would be fashionable to put a tawashi on your bag.

There are four different designs to choose from, so you can match it to your fashion and use at the time. In addition to being attached as a strap or charm, it can actually be used as a tawashi. If you get dirt on your clothes while you are out and about, you can use the “Tawashi Strap/Charm Tawashi” and water to remove the dirt.

Conclusion

We introduced Takada Kozo Shoten, a company that grows hemp palms and produces tawashi (a kind of trowel), and its products in order to preserve the hemp palm industry and traditional handicrafts.

We have been manufacturing daily necessities using hemp palms as our livelihood. The company has spent a lot of time cultivating hemp palms, which have been drastically reduced in number, and is overflowing with enthusiasm for each of its products.

We will keep our eyes on the future activities of Takada Kouzo Shoten.

Takada KozoShotenofficial HP
Takada Kozo Shoten official online store