NOUSAKU crafts unique items through traditional knowledge and exceptional craftsmanship. Their items are celebrated all over the world.
Takaoka city has become the center of copper industry in Japan over 400 years. Here, in 1916 Nousaku began manufacturing Buddhist ritual objects, Japanese tea sets and vases made of brass and bronze.
One recent innovation of NOUSAKU is the development of the world's first tableware made of 100% tin. This "flexible ware" series allows the user to flexibly bend the plates and bowls again and again without breaking or weakening the material. Sake cups made of pure tin are also said to reduce acidity, enhancing the flavor of sake.
NOUSAKU's goal is to preserve and pass on the traditions that have been cultivated over many years, but also pursue designs that make the most of technologies and materials.
NOUSAKU Materials
Tin
Tin is the most expensive metal after gold and silver. It has excellent antibacterial and ionic effects, such as preventing water corrosion and mellowing the flavour of sake, and has long been used as a material for tea and sake vessels. 100% tin is very soft and, depending on its shape, can easily be bent by hand. The KAGO series of bendable tinware, as well as a wide range of tableware and vases, make use of these characteristics to add colour to a variety of scenes in daily life.
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It has a long history dating back to around 1,000 BC and was used as currency in the Roman Empire. Today, the most familiar brass products are architectural hardware, Buddhist altar items and musical instruments, thanks to their clear tones. At Nosaku, all brass products are made by hand by experienced craftsmen, and have a variety of different looks depending on the finish.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. It has a very long history and was already in use in Mesopotamia around 2 000 BC. It was introduced to Japan in Kyushu around 300 BC, along with iron and rice cultivation, and was used for bronze mirrors and bronze bells because of its excellent corrosion resistance. The Great Buddha in Nara and the Peace Statue in Nagasaki were also cast in bronze. Nosaku makes the most of its properties and uses it as a material for its moss bonsai series, objects and custom-built architectural hardware.
