What remains: a hardware store in Osaka lays bare the bolts of Japan’s history
To call the location of vintage hardware shop Tsumugi Syoukai obscure would be an understatement. Large warehouses and small sub-suppliers to Osaka’s heavy industry dominate the area, the only bright addition being a small nursery from where the sound of children singing can be heard from the large open windows of the shop’s first floor. Proprietor and self-acclaimed hardware-otaku (that’s Japanese for nerd) Masakatsu Sato doesn’t seem to mind at all.
‘I had a smaller shop, a bit more central, before I opened here this summer,’ he says. ‘But we are doing much more business now, even in this strange location.’ It’s clear why. The shop is housed in what used to be a warehouse, and the bare cement floor, the painted steel windows and the industrial feel fit perfectly with the merchandise. And what merchandise! Sato has been hoarding vintage hardware dead stock from around Japan for the last seven years, and the variety of hinges, locks, knobs and handles, mostly from when these kinds of fittings were still made in Japan in the late 1800s to mid-1900s, is staggering. Besides hardware, he also buys old household goods such as dustpans and cups, plus the odd piece of furniture. Japan is notorious for its readiness to tear down homes older than a generation, and Sato also likes to salvage doors and windows from old buildings when the opportunity presents itself.
The shop is divided into two floors, each around 300 sq m in size. On the ground floor, there is a fully equipped workshop where Sato restores old furniture and makes made-to-order pieces. Larger items, including a few vintage Japanese bicycles, are also displayed. Up an iron staircase is the main shop brimming with all the wonderful hardware.
Sato’s love for the products is evident from the way he talks about the history of each individual piece. He shows me two padlocks. One carries the inscription ‘made in occupied Japan’, the other the Japanese word ‘fukko’, which means ‘restoration’. They both tell of a different Japan all together. He also has a scrapbook where he keeps old packages and labels from his many years of collecting. The colours may be faded, but the graphic design from this golden era of Japanese manufacturing looks refreshingly different from anything you see at your local hardware store. Every piece has a story and Sato is fascinated by the creativity of design and what these humble hinges and brackets tell about Japanese manufacturing history. ‘Of course, I am happy when someone buys something, but it also makes me a bit sad,’ he says. I get the feeling he would rather not sell anything, and just keep expanding this seemingly never-ending collection of vintage Japanese hardware.
INFORMATION
Tsumugi Syoukai is open on Saturdays and Sundays or by prior appointment. For more information, visit the store’s website
Photography: Hachi Anzai
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Originally from Denmark, Jens H. Jensen has been calling Japan his home for almost two decades. Since 2014 he has worked with Wallpaper* as the Japan Editor. His main interests are architecture, crafts and design. Besides writing and editing, he consults numerous business in Japan and beyond and designs and build retail, residential and moving (read: vans) interiors.
-
Explore Cornwall's cosiest coffee shops
Cornwall is known for its natural beauty and stunning landscape, here is our pick of coffee shops to enjoy the views and refuel
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Maude’s Brâncuși-inspired sex toys go on display in a new Paris exhibition
Maude’s design-led vibrators are now on display at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, as part of ‘Private Lives: From the Bedroom to Social Media’. Brand founder Éva Goicochea talks to Wallpaper* about partnering with the museum and opening up cultural conversations around sex
By India Birgitta Jarvis Published
-
‘I was captivated by the idea of merging two iconic brands’: Nigo on his 1990s-inspired collaboration with Moncler and Mercedes-Benz
Unveiled at Moncler’s ‘The City of Genius’ event in Shanghai this past weekend, Japanese fashion designer Nigo unpacks his three-way collaboration with Moncler and Mercedes-Benz, which includes a play on the G-Class alongside a fashion collection in his eclectic style
By Jack Moss Published
-
Craft x Tech elevates Japanese craftsmanship with progressive technology
The inaugural edition of Craft x Tech was presented in Tokyo this week, before making its first international stop at Design Miami Basel (11-16 June 2024)
By Danielle Demetriou Last updated
-
Ikea meets Japan in this new pattern-filled collection
New Ikea Sötrönn collection by Japanese artist Hiroko Takahashi brings Japan and Scandinavia together in a pattern-filled, joyful range for the home
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Junya Ishigami designs at Maniera Gallery are as ethereal as his architecture
Junya Ishigami presents new furniture at Maniera Gallery in Belgium (until 31 August 2024), following the series' launch during Milan Design Week
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Nao Tamura's ‘Origata’ bench for Porro is inspired by kimonos
‘Origata’ bench, by Nao Tamura, for Porro is among our Salone del Mobile 2024 highlights, featured in May Wallpaper*, on sale 11 April
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Newly-opened Audo in Tokyo brings Copenhagen aesthetic to Japan
Denmark meets Japan: Audo Tokyo opens with a serene series of scenescapes that offers a sensory immersion in the brand's aesthetics
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
In the aftermath of Japan’s Noto earthquake, what’s next for Ishikawa crafts?
Craftspeople from the Ishikawa craft district tell Wallpaper* how the 2024 Noto earthquake affected their community, and what lies ahead
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
Rino Claessens’ modular furniture experiments with ceramic design
Wallpaper* Future Icons: Rino Claessens turns his love for ceramics into experimental large-scale modules and compositions
By Jasper Spires Published
-
Best Body Slammers: Japanese female wrestling meets design
The Sukeban female wrestling league made its Miami debut in December, with a championship belt by Marc Newson, hats by Stephen Jones, creative direction by Olympia Le Tan – and a win in the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2024
By Maria Sobrino Last updated