Ninomiya Goro Sho-ten is a respected leatherware company based in Sumida, an area of Tokyo famous for craft goods, and about two kilometers north of the Tokyo Skytree. Founded in 1946, it acts as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for well-known overseas brands and also creates unique products under its own name to its own distinctive designs.
The company sources fine leathers from long-established tanners in Italy, Germany, France, and the U.S. These leathers include Shell Cordovan and Chromexcel from Horween Leather Company in Chicago, and leathers from Guidi & Rosellini and Badalassi Carlo in Italy. Ninomiya Goro Sho-ten has a particular preference for Cordovan and sources this leather from four manufacturers overseas.
The company sells its leatherware in Japan, Norway, Singapore, and other countries. Recently, it has also started selling to 10 Corso Como, a renowned boutique in Milan, Italy. All its manufacturing processes, from pattern-making to finishing, are carried out in-house by hand, and often by artisans who have decades of experience.
The KAWA-ORIGAMI series of products, which Ninomiya Goro Sho-ten sells under its own name, is inspired by the traditional Japanese art of origami. They are notable for their rounded silhouettes and their red or gold-leather inner lining, which add an unmistakably Japanese touch. The series was selected for The Wonder 500™, a collection of Japan’s very best local products, and is much admired around the world.
The AJIRO-GRAIN series of products is made using leather embossed with a mesh pattern. Ninomiya Goro Sho-ten originally created this line by weaving thin strands of leather, but this led to the leather snagging and catching, so the company switched to embossing. The embossing is so technically sophisticated that it could almost be mistaken for real weaving. Customers are encouraged to hold and see the effect for themselves.
To make wallet compartments that hold business cards and banknotes, Ninomiya Goro Sho-ten uses a process called “Fu-kin-Machi.” In Japanese, Fu-kin means accordion, and machi means depth or bellows. The process ensures that the bellow-like pleats fold outward. This means that notes and business cards can be smoothly inserted and removed without catching on the interior. This attention to detail is typical of the tremendous skill of the company’s craftspeople.
Ninomiya Goro Sho-ten is also working hard to reduce its carbon footprint. As of June 2024, 82% of the electricity used in its factories was from solar power. The company also operates a fleet of electric sales vehicles.
Customers who wish to view products at Ninomiya Goro Sho-ten can do so by appointment. The company also accepts OEM orders. Please contact the company via telephone or email.
Address
3-30-8 Higashimukojima, Sumida-ku, TOKYO
Telephone Number
+81-3-3610-2038
Official site
https://www.ninoworks.com
nino.co.jp
http://www.nino.co.jp
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ninomiyagoro/
Business Hours: 9:00-18:00
Closed: Sun. and holidays
E-mail: info@nino.co.jp