Sewing Takeuchi Co., Ltd. | BF KITCHEN

BF KITCHEN "Sewing factory-made, sustainable tailoring"

BF KITCHEN was launched in 2022 with the underlying theme of sustainable production from raw materials to the production process itself, with the aim of making a positive contribution to the environmental problems relating to kitchen fabrics such as clothing disposal and food waste. It is hoped that BF KITCHEN will provide an opportunity for people to become interested in sustainable ventures and products.

5 Characteristics of Eco-Factory BF KITCHEN

① Cloth woven from the local Banshu-ori using GOTS-certified organic cotton.
②The cloth is dyed with various discarded food products. Blueberries, spinach, chestnuts and other discarded produce are used to produce natural colors.
③The brand tags that are attached to the finished products use recycled paper made from discarded rice.
④All electricity required, whether for desk work or for the manufacturing process, is provided by electricity generation from the factory's own solar panels.
⑤Cloth leftovers from the cutting process are upcycled into industrial parts instead of being discarded.
BF KITCHEN's sustainable, attractive products have been exhibited many times in exhibitions in New York, USA and other locations. Requests have been placed by local retailers as a result of these exhibitions, and BF Kitchen is now actively approaching the challenging of expanding its business overseas.

Sewing Takeuchi Co., Ltd. is a sewing factory that is pursuing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sewing Takeuchi Co., Ltd. is responsible for the planning, production and sales of BF Kitchen. Its head office and sewing factory is located in Taka in Hyogo prefecture, and since the company's founding in 1982 it has carried out eco-friendly production using the Japanese phrase "Mottai Nai", meaning wasteful, as a slogan. Since the 2000s it has campaigned for the quantification of CO2 emissions, local cleanup, the use of green energy, and creating workplace environments that promote employment in rural areas in the face of ageing and depopulation. Sewing Takeuchi Co., Ltd is actively working on a wide range of SDGs, including donating 25,000 masks in response to the 2020 corona disaster.

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Yuji Hashimoto Woven Fabrics

A company that loves Banshu-ori

Yuji Hashimoto Woven Fabrics, located in Taka in Hyogo prefecture, produces "Stoles that are gentle on skin" using fabrics is so soft that you may not even notice when it touches your skin, and because it is made from a new material that is gentle on skin, it is easy to use even for those with irritated or sensitive skin.
Banshu-ori, woven in the Banshu region, is woven in such a variety of colors that it is said to be able to accurately reproduce a painting, while also being characterized by its low color fading. Hashimoto Yuji Woven Fabrics is not bound by the conventional wisdom of the textile industry, but independently develops new materials using the techniques of Banshu weaving, and is cultivating new sales channels one after another.

Attention to detail and Appeal achieved through retro looms

The secret behind the development of "fabrics so soft that you may not even notice when it touches your skin" lies in the manufacturing process. Using a rapier loom from 40 years ago that is no longer in production and heavy equipment from half a century ago along with precise millimeter-by-millimeter blueprints produces a texture that is difficult to achieve with modern equipment because everything from the tension of the threads, their stretch and contraction, and even the position of the warp and weft of the weave are all carefully checked and manually adjusted. Particularly significant for the texture of the fabric is the difference in weaving speed. Since Yuji Hashimoto Woven Fabrics' equipment operates at a lower speed than typical of modern equipment, by taking time in the manufacturing process it is possible to create soft, fluffy fabric without putting stress upon the thread, resulting in a deep, fluffy texture distinctive to vintage equipment.
In this manner using reliable techniques, reliable equipment and reliable quality, fluffy stoles using new, skin-friendly materials are woven. They are masterworks of weaving that it is hoped you will have a chance to pick up and feel for yourself.

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Shimomura Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.

The Sake Rice "Yamada Nishiki and "Hyogo Yume Nishiki"

The Harima region is famous for producing Yamada Nishiki, the king of sake rice, and high-quality "Yamada Nishiki" is available there. The Shimomura Sake Brewery, located in the Yasutomi area, uses not just Yamada Nishiki, but also Hyogo Yume Shiki, the grandchild of Yamada Nishiki.

"Okuharima" produced from Hyogo Yume Nishiki

In the Yasutomi area, where Hyogo Yume Nishiki is grown extensively, water from the Hayashida River is used to cultivate the rice fields, and Shimomura Sake Brewery uses underground water from the same source when brewing sake to avoid the brewing process putting strain upon the sake rice. Okuharima, carefully produced from the sake rice and water of the Yasutomi area, which is rich in nature, is not a commonly drank sake even for Japanese people, but is rather a sake specially favored by connoisseurs. Sweet and fruity flavors are generally popular in Japan, but Okuharima is characterized by a strong flavor and a moderate aroma. It is popular with sake lovers for its sense of presence and strong umami flavor. Another characteristic that can be said of Okuharima is that it pairs well with food, and its flavor stands out further when drunk with a meal.

The characteristics and appeal of the rare "Okuharima"

It would be good if travellers to Japan could pick up a bottle of Okuharima when they visit, but its production background makes it difficult to obtain. Shimomura Sake Brewery maintains a traditional handmade sake brewing process without any mechanization or mass production. For this reason, the annual production volume is limited and there is not a large volume of distribution. Furthermore, the sake produced at Shimomura Sake Brewery is a strong sake that pairs well with food. Therefore, Shimomura Sake Brewery exclusively sells to retailers who can explain to customers the details of how it is made and how to enjoy it with meals. Put another way, the owners of stores that carry Okuharima are connoisseurs of sake. If you have a chance to see Okurihama, it is a sake of rare quality you should definitely taste.

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Tsubosaka Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.

Tsubosaka Sake Brewery's "Natural Fermentation" Techniques

For more than 200 years, Tsubosaka Sake Brewery has been dedicated to sake brewing in its innovatively constructed brewery, which has been designated by Himeji City as an Important Urban Landscape Building. At Tsubosaka Sake Brewery, sake unique to its region that cannot be reproduced elsewhere is produced, adhering to traditional "natural fermentation" techniques. Typically, the sake brewing process involves adjusting the temperature and humidity inside the brewery to achieve a predetermined desired flavor. At Tsubosaka Sake Brewery, fermentation is achieved by simply opening and closing the brewery door at the optimal timing to produce a mild, soft-tasting sake whose flavor comes from the natural climate.

The Philosophy of Tsubosaka Sake Brewery

In the modern era, sake with a uniform taste can be produced without using natural fermentation, but Tsubosaka Brewery treasures the concept of the yearly vintage and soil effects upon the sake expressed in the wine term terroir. The brewery follows the policy handed down from previous generations: "Local sake is made by local people using local rice in the local climate", and relishes the pleasure of comparing the different flavor characteristics each year according to that year's climate.

Tsubosaka Sake Brewery's Flagship Brand "Seppikosan"

Seppikosan is named after a local mountain famous for rock climbing. The name seems to be difficult for foreigners to pronounce, so in France it is affectionately known as Piko. The The Seppikosan Brand has more than 20 separate products with their own distinctive taste and character.

The winner of many awards in overseas contests

Seppikosan has won awards in many overseas contests, including the Sake category of the IWC (International Wine Challenge) and the French sake contest "Kura Master". Domestically, it has won the gold medal for "Sake delicious in a wine glass" four years in a row. This contest judges both the elegant aroma before drinking and the fullness of the flavor after drinking and Seppikosan's victory there is the proof of our commitment to natural fermentation. We hope you find the "Piko" that is right for you.

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Izushi Noodle Company, Ltd.

Izushi, The Soba Town

Did you know there is a small town in the north of Hyogo Prefecture with about 38 handmade soba restaurants?
"Izushi Sara Soba" has its beginnings in the area around 300 years ago during the Edo period, when the present culinary tradition of serving it on small plates of white Izushi ware plates began. It is served with five servings to a person, and the noodles are dipped in a separate broth that includes raw egg and grated yam toppings. Buckwheat hulls high in nutrition are freshly ground to make the noodles, which gives them their characteristic black color. The noodles are served immediately after being ground to preserve the flavor and scent of the buckwheat. This is part of the distinct food culture of Izushi Sara Soba, which values the principle of "freshly ground, freshly milled, and freshly boiled".

Izushi Noodle Company's Izushi Soba

"Izushi Soba", is made by Izushi Noodle Company, which runs a noodle manufacturing business in the town of Izushi. This soba is made using locally milled buckwheat flour and delicious local water that easily permeates buckwheat flour. In order to prevent rapid drying of the noodles and stabilize the quality so that it can withstand long-term storage, we carefully remove excess water from the noodles through a low-temperature drying process over the course of 4 days. By doing so, the taste of the Izushi soba does not escape, and the aroma of the buckwheat spreads in your mouth as soon as you put it in your mouth.

Izushi's Dedication to Soba Attracts Worldwide Attention

Because the noodles are manufactured without using any additives, they are an organic food suitable for long-term storage. Buckwheat is registered on the WHO's list of essential ingredients, and among grains boasts a relatively low calorie count and high nutrition value. Soba is attracting worldwide attention as a health food and superfood. Feel free to enjoy the fragrant, delicious soba noodles and Izushi's food culture from the comfort of your own home.

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Tajima Fisheries Cooperatives

Tajima Fisheries Cooperatives, delivering the bounty of the sea

Situated on the Sea of Japan, Tajima is an area with a rich diversity of fish due to its favorable environment for fish habitats. High-quality brand crabs like "Shibayama Gold" or "Kasumi PREMIUM" can be caught in Tajima, which also boasts top-class catches of Matsuba crab and is one of the best fishing ports in Japan. Tajima Fisheries Cooperatives, which manages the fishing port, has developed "natural brewing Fish Soy Sauce", a sauce with concentrated fish flavor.

The Development of Original Fish Sauce

"Natural brewing Fish Soy Sauce" is a fish sauce that can improve dishes with a rich, full-bodied flavor with just a few drops.
The origin of the sauce's development has its background in the effective utilization of idscarded fish. Around 35% of fish caught are discarded for various reasons such as small numbers, small size, or being too difficult to process, which is a major obstacle for the fishery industry. At Tajima, an original fish sauce was developed based on the desire to reduce the waste of fish caught by fishermen, and to make effective use of fish that would have been thrown away.

Additive-free Umami Seasoning

"Natural brewing Fish Soy Sauce" is made using the same process as soy sauce, and is an additive-free seasoning with concentrated umami. It is a very easy-to-use seasoning that is appropriate for any type of cuisine. Besides seafood, it is useful due to its ability to add accent to a wide variety of dishes such as steak or other meats, okonomiyaki, ramen, and salads. It is also available in a lineup of 7 flavors: Blackthroat Seaperch, Red Snow Crab, Sweet Shrimp, Octopus, Sandfish, Firefly Squid, and Eelpouts. We also offer several other related products that use fish sauce as a seasoning. Please try them to add an umami accent flavor to your usual dishes.

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Castle Leather Co., Ltd.

Himeji, a City Famous for Leather Production

Himeji, famous for Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site also known as the "White Heron Castle", is a famous production area for leather, with 70% of all Japanese leather products being produced in Himeji city. The oldest of traditions, White Leather Tanning, has been handed down in Himeji for over 1,000 years. It produces leatherwork characterized by natural whiteness and durability achieved without any dyeing, bleaching or other artificial processes. It is also very light, with air trapped between the intertwined leather fibers, and owing to its lightness was used in the Sengoku period for armor and helmets.

Traditional Himeji Leatherwork Produced by Castle Leather

"Himeji Leatherwork" is a traditional craft of Hyogo Prefecture which has been handed down for 350 years. It is a kind of leatherwork that utilizes White Leather Tanning. A pattern is embossed on the surface of high quality white leather, which then has each pattern individually colored with a brush before applying a water-resistant treatment to repel water droplets. Castle Leather is the only company in Japan that produces leather using this unique Himeji Leatherwork technique.

Detailed Handiwork Produced by Craftsmen

Because each piece of leather has its own characteristics, using ten separate strips of leather will produce ten distinct products. The irreplicable distinctiveness of each craft is part of its allure. Himeji Leatherwork cannot be mass-produced because it is all handmade by craftsmen. However, this allows them to create products that take full advantage of the characteristics of each individual piece of leather.
Himeji Leatherwork can be enjoyed as it ages, with the passage of time and how it is used gradually bringing out a different luster and subtle changes to the material.
Long Wallets are a product that Castle Leather puts a particular emphasis on. The surface of the leather is embellished with beautiful talismans to ensure fortune, making you feel luckier just by holding it. These mastercraft wallets have been exhibited at trade fairs in New York and exhibitions in Paris, and are treasure it is hoped you will get the chance to get ahold of yourself.

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Marufuku Kasei Co., Ltd. | Leather Workshop "whim"

Cloth-like leather products from the leather workshop "whim"

The leather workshop whim, operated by Marufuku Kasei in Fukusaki, Hyogo Prefecture, produces leather bags with leather material so thin (measuring 0.2 to 0.6mm) that it has a cloth-like texture. This thin high-quality leather is dyed in an indigo-dyeing style, and the bags are made using the traditional Japanese "Furoshiki" tying technique. There are plans to develop a dyeing process using new vegetable materials like cherry blossoms and tea leaves, and future innovations are highly anticipated.

Furoshiki BAG, The Bags With a Beautiful, Unique Texture

"Furoshiki BAG" has receive acclaim for the distinctive wrinkles that appear on its thin, cloth-like surface despite it being leather. It has also enjoyed a very high international reputation, winning a prize at the world's foremost bag trade fair "Mipel THE BAG SHOW", held in Milan, Italy.
The gradation of colors that occur as a result of the aging process, the creases and folds, and the unique texture that can only be found with leather products, all combine to form an extremely beautiful product that captivates those who view it.

Marufuku Kasei's Important Convictions

Marufuku is committed to producing to producing products that are truly a joy to use and hold, rather than inexpensively mass-produced products.
Marufuku Kasei generally manufactures using a semi-custom pattern order system, catering to the needs of individual customers with a wide range of customization, including the shape and size of bag handles and the option to utilize up to four colors in a single bag. "Furoshiki BAG" is a lovingly crafted individual product that you will cherish more and more as you continue to use it.
Why not try getting your own bag that is the only one of its kind in the world, and enjoy watching as it gradually changes and matures with you through life?

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Ota Construction

Japanese Cypress from Taka and Ota Construction's Deep Commitments

Ota Construction uses Japanese Cypress from the local town of Taka and builds houses using the traditional construction method "Kigumi", in which objects are assembled without the use of any metal parts.
The quality of Japanese Cypress is determined by the drying temperature, which influences the color and gloss, the warping and twisting of the wood, and its susceptability to surface cracks. Ota Construction is committed to "ultra-low temperature drying" in which cypress is carefully dried over the course of a month to create durable cypress wood that retains its fragrance. Furthermore, cypress is purchased directly from local foresters, rather than through a co-op or lumber company, to leave profits for foresters and continue efforts to protect local mountains. Finally, with the aim of passing down traditional methods to young craftsmen, Ota Construction began the "Jakusho" (young artisans) project, and has successfully trained craftsmen for the past three years.

Lampshades fashioned from Japanese Cypress

Ota Construction maintains a high commitment to contributing to its local community, and uses local Taka cypress wood as well as Sugihara washi paper and Banshu-ori cloth, both of which are locally made in Taka, to make its lampshades. Sugihara Washi has over 900 years of history and strives for natural whiteness, while Banshu-ori is a "dyed-thread fabric" woven from thread that has been dyed before the weaving process. This collaboration of traditional techniques found in Taka and representative of Japan combine to produce a product that conveys the natural warmth and light of wood.

Goldfish Scooping Sets made from Japanese Cypress

Goldfish scooping is an activity popular with children found in local festivals across Japan, in which goldfish are scooped from a tank using a scoop covered in water that tears easily when wet and then placed in a bowl. Ota Construction has created a Goldfish Scooping set for children using local Taka cypress. When the goldfish made of Japanese Cypress float in the water, they emit the gentle scent of Cypress and lend a more authentic Japanese atmosphere. Please take the opportunity to hold in your hands one of these exceptional achievements in Japanese carpentry crafted from carpenters using only the highest quality Japanese Cypress from Taka.

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Hiwara Construction

Japanese Cypress from Taka and the Techniques of Hiwara Construction

Japanese Cypress, which has a distinctive fragrance, is often used in making Japanese homes, shrines and temples, while baths made from Japanese cypress are also popular for their relaxing effect. It addition, its glossy luster and gentle ambience make it popular for use in furniture. The town of Taka in Hyogo prefecture, where Hiwara Construction is located, is surrounded by mountains, and accounts for roughly 60% of the wood shipped from the area. Hiwara Construction has been in operation since the Meiji period, and has been responsible for the construction of shrines and temples that have become important cultural and historical properties. The company currently specializes in house construction and renovation, but has also begun manufacturing furniture using its skills and experience as a construction firm.

Hiwara's Specialty "Co-creation Stool"

Hiwara Construction's signature product, the Co-creation Stool, is made entirely from natural materials. The legs of the stool are made from Japanese Cypress local to Taka, while the seat is made of rushes from Kumamoto prefecture, the stool is assembled with glue made from the Sake Rice Yamada Nishiki, and only natural Kinuka paint is used. Hiwara Construction is working to produce natural furniture that solely utilizes natural materials and plans to sell them worldwide in the near future.
In addition, as the furniture of a woodworking construction company, it has been made without the use of metal fittings such as nails. Furniture without metal fittings is easier to dispose of, helping contribute to Sustainable Development Goals and being safer for children. Because it uses natural materials, it is also allergy friendly.
At roughly 200,000 yen, it is a luxury piece of furniture, but it is a masterwork made possible through the techniques and passion of craftsmen.

The Appeal of Japanese Cypress from Taka

Japanese Cypress from Taka is characterized by its beautiful luster and wonderful fragrance achieved by its unique milling process and low-temperature drying. The gentle cypress scent permeates through a room, creating a Japanese atmosphere. By all means, please place cypress wood in one of your rooms to enjoy a uniquely Japanese scent from the comfort of your own home.

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