The Tsubame and Sanjo areas of Niigata Prefecture have long been famous for their metalworking industry. Characterized by their functionality and high quality, they have been widely used both in Japan and overseas.
It is said that the industry began in this area in the early Edo period (1603-1867) as a side job for farmers.
The Shinano River, which is indispensable for rice cultivation and the growth of crops, flows nearby in this region. While the Shinano River was indispensable to the people of this area, it was also plagued by flooding. Under such circumstances, it is said that Japanese nail craftsmen were called in from Edo, and as a side business, the industry flourished.
Today, Tsubame-Sanjo accounts for about 90% of the nation's production of both metal houseware and western-style metal tableware, and Tsubame-Sanjo hardware is used on dining tables in Japan and around the world to support people's lives.
Tsubame-Sanjo is the common name for the cities of Tsubame and Sanjo, which are located in the center of Niigata Prefecture. The Shinano River flows nearby.
Sanjo is known as the "merchant town" and Tsubame is known as the "craftsman town," and has flourished since the early Edo period (1603-1868) as a metalworking town, well known not only in Japan but also throughout the world. The population of Tsubame City is 77,000, and that of Sanjo City is 99,000.
Sanjo City is also home to a large number of listed companies, ranking third after Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture in terms of the number of listed companies per capita, along with many manufacturing companies. The climate of the region is characterized by short, warm, and steamy summers, very cold and windy winters, high humidity throughout the year, and many cloudy days. The plains of both Tsubame and Sanjo cover much of the area, while the Shimoda area of Sanjo is mountainous.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Made in Tsubame”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.
The Tsubame and Sanjo areas of Niigata Prefecture have been manufacturing many products since the early Edo period (1603-1868) to the present as a metalworking town. Originally, it started as a side job for farmers.
It all started due to flooding and damage from the Shinano River, which flows nearby. The flooding prevented crops from growing and interfered with people's lives, and a new industry called "metalworking" helped those in need. For the people in this troubled area, Japanese nail craftsmen were called in from Edo (now Tokyo). It is said that from there, nail making was recommended as a side job for farmers, and the metalworking industry developed. The Tsubame industrial complex, which had acquired a new industry of "metalworking," later grew to the point of helping the reconstruction of Edo.
Many of the Japanese nails were sent to Edo via wholesalers in Tsubame and Sanjo. And during the Edo Earthquake and Great Fire of the Genna period (1615-1623), they made a great contribution to help Edo by bringing the industry of "metalworking" to the city. While the fires caused much damage in Edo, the demand for nails increased, and craftsmen in Tsubame and Sanjo helped to restore the city.
Throughout this history, we have steadily improved our technical capabilities, manufacturing products to meet people's demand, and we have continued to do so to the present day. As technology developed with the times and new products were created, Tsubame-Sanjo's manufacturing evolved. The technology was passed down from generation to generation, sometimes changing its form. The result was the metal tableware and metal houseware industries. In this way, the technology has been steadily handed down to the present day.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Made in Tsubame”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.