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Hataori Kawachi Cotton Workshop
Kawachi cotton was shaped by the landscape. Hataori strives to help that legacy flourish, and fosters deeper care and interest among local residents by involving them in gathering… -
Aoki Inc.
This company is headed by Ex-chairman Toyohiko Aoki, a key figure in the legendary local effort to build a satellite “Maido No. 1” for launch into space by JAXA, Japan’s space agency. Aoki … -
Noda Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
From humble cooking pots to high-tech components, the story of Noda Manufacturing’s growth is truly fascinating, and more than a little moving. Its primary business is making products… -
Nihon Kasen Co., Ltd.
In addition to color wire for the manufacturing industry, we have developed colored wire for home crafting and helped create a new market for the imaginative Color Wire-Craft hobby. Our company… -
Kawamura Gishi Co., Ltd.
We see our mission as the improvement of Quality of Life, where life means lifestyle, livelihood, and lifespan.This mission drives us to help improve our customers' … -
Nakano Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Nakano Manufacturing are machining experts, offering precision to the last micrometer on even the most challenging materials. Being located in Higashiosaka City, Japan’s … -
Matsuda Paper Industry Co., Ltd.
Matsuda produces and sells a full range of retail paper products. The company makes both outer boxes and inner cartons. President Matsuda says, “Creativity and craftsmanship … -
Konoike Shinden Kaisho
Konoike Shinden Kaisho was the management office in charge of shinden, new farmland, developed by the Konoike family, one of the great merchant families of Edo Period Japan.… -
Kawachi Ichinomiya Hiraoka Shrine
This shrine is famous in Japan for its age, as it was founded in 663 BC. It is also called Kawachinokuni Ichinomiya. The two deities enshrined here, Ame-no-Koyane-no-mikoto … -
Washo Metal Crafts
Washo Metal Crafts are masters of metal spinning, where a metal sheet or tube is spun on a lathe and pressed into shape with a metal rod. Here, skilled craftsman achieve a level of precision… -
Shigehara Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Shigehara produces parts for car and motorcycle engines and transmissions. It has the technology to mill a part from a single lump of metal based on 3D models. The company’s strength is its … -
North Hillz Welding Industry
North Hillz was founded in January 2012. It offers high-precision welding techniques geared for semiconductor industry vacuum equipment, and those special skills lead to inquiries from all over … -
Fuji Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
We can handle all manner of customer requirements flawlessly through our large inventory of steel stock and our seasoned workers’ ability to conduct all processers in-house, from cutting… -
Matsuyoshi-Doll Co., ltd.
We aim to create a great variety of dolls, from traditional to modern, with a focus on Hina dolls. We are one of the rare workshops that cuts clothing, sews, and produces completed Hina dolls. … -
Sunrise Iron Co.,Ltd.
All varieties of can manufacturing, forklift attachment production, flash-butt welding, design development. Our can manufacturing technology is utilized … -
Nakatsuji kanagata Kougyou Co., Ltd.
As we make car components and consumer electronics like refrigerators, we mass-produce, pressing rather than cutting by hand in order to create large quantities of the same item.… -
Excellent Co., Ltd.
Excellent makes, supplies, and assembles components for a major rolling stock manufacturer, including iron, stainless steel, and aluminum parts for chasses, structures, … -
Seiko SCM Corporation
Strengths Seiko SCM has been a mainstay of local manufacturing for around 60 years, producing light fittings, die-casting dies, and die-cast components. Originally … -
Kyowakogyo Co., Ltd.
■Founded: 1968 ■Business: Manufacture of chain-link wire netting Kyowakogyo offers a huge variety of chain-link wire netting made from many different kinds of wire ideal for … -
Kinki Kogyo Inc.
■Manufacture of hydraulic cylinders and related parts (for barber and beauty salon chairs, dentist’s chairs and medical examination tables); clutches and conveyor rollers (for …
Passing the flame of passion for craftsmanship to a new generation
The Kawachiimoji trade group tradition of metal shaping, which made the Daibutsu of Todaiji Temple, is still handed down in Higashiosaka. Now, the city is garnering world-wide attention as home to market-leading companies in a variety of fields, as well as some developing truly unique products and techniques. Higashiosaka is progressing into the future too, with the launch of the "Made in Higashiosaka" satellite Maido No.1 and enterprises focusing on nanotechnology, while still preserving those old metal-working traditions.
The benefits of our tours are two-fold. Not only does touring local factories offer people a chance to learn about the true roots of craftsmanship, but it also encourages the local industry to take pride in its work and maintain its environment accordingly. After all, local craftsmanship is about people, and people are not just “residents”—they are the true value of the community. As such, our tours are popular not only with students, but also among the broader community, for whom these tours are a vehicle for rediscovering their passion for true craftsmanship.
We're also working on taking advantage of existing local resources to create more fans of Higashiosaka with a new kind of craftsmanship tourism!
Advance Study Materials
These will offer basic information on Higashiosaka and the planned course, profiles of the executives to be met, and more, as well as an introduction to the Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism Promotion Association (OCTPA), which will be guiding the tours, to prepare visitors and to help generate interest and excitement.
Study Materials Outline (Sample)
- Introduction to host organization, Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism Promotion Association
- Simple history and outline of Higashiosaka
- Introduction to enterprises and CEOs to be visited
- Things to consider in advance, course-specific questions, etc.
*After reading, please decide which of your groups will take which course.
*Distributed approx. 1 month before day of event.
Arrival on-site, briefing
The OCTPA will brief all members based on the advance study materials They will also confirm caution points when visiting the businesses.
Factory Tour (Activity)
Each group will tour its destinations and factories. On-site experts will explain the importance of things like safety management, quality control, and proper cleaning and organization, as well as environmental care, contribution to society, and of course high-level technological capability and world-leading craftsmanship skills.
Some factories will have activity areas set up as well. There are simulated activities, but some locations will offer the chance for actual production work. The main goal is to give participants a chance to see where craftsmanship happens to help them understand the atmosphere, the hard work, and the noise of the workshops, through direct experience. Naturally, feel free to ask questions while there. Everyone is happy to answer.
A unique feature of the Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism program is that participants can visit SMEs and factories to observe and experience their work on-site. Since this program is only possible with cooperation from the factories and enterprises, the Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism Promotion Association (OCTPA) will arrange the schedule and locations so as to achieve a mutually agreeable fit between participants’ preferences and the convenience of the factories and businesses. Unlike most sightseeing courses, the final decision regarding course and itinerary is made by us. For that reason, providing the details and characteristics of your group, your plans before and after participating in our tours, and your reason for participating in our program, better enables us to create an itinerary that suits your needs.
Registration
Registration or requests for the Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism programs introduced on this website, or for lecturers, can be done by e-mail or fax. Please check the procedure below before contacting us. For inquiries regarding this website or the Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism Promotion Association, please contact us through the Inquiry & Contact page. We also welcome inquiries from businesses or organizations interested in participating in or hosting these tours and activities. Conditions for use of the Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism program are here.
Register by e-mail
Those wishing to register by email should copy the Email Registration Template and paste it into the body of their email. Fill in the required fields then email it to: info@osaka-monodukuri.com. Please be sure to include the section titled Privacy Policy.
Email Registration Template
Subject: [Registration] Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism Navigator
■Contact:
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Your Company Name:
Name (Contact person):
Post Code:
Address:
Tel. (Normal contact):
Tel. (Emergency contact):
Fax:
E-mail:
■Registration Details:
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Desired Program: Tour + Activity or Lecture
*Delete the undesired program.
Number of participants
Adults:
University, trade school students:
High school students:
Middle school students:
Elementary school students:
Program Purpose: Off Campus Education or Field Trip or Study Tour or Other ( )
NB: Delete all that do not apply
When marking Other, please fill in the details of the purpose.
Desired Date of Visit (First choice): Time range Start -
Finish Desired Time Range [Start] 00:00 - [Finish]00:00
Desired Date of Visit (Second choice): Time range Start -
Finish Desired Time Range [Start] 00:00 - [Finish]00:00
*Tours are held during normal working hours. Please choose a time between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm.
Travel plans before and after tour:
Staying in Higashiosaka the night before (name of accommodation: )
Day trip (not staying in Higashiosaka)
Staying in Higashiosaka after tour (name of accommodation: )
*Delete all that do not apply, and when staying in Higashiosaka the night before or night of the visit, please enter the name of the accommodation facility.
*We ask for your travel plans before and after because it can enable us to offer better tours.
■Outline of your organization, as well as any requests or questions
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Please introduce your organization and tell us of any special requests or questions you may have.
■Privacy Policy
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Osaka Craftsmanship Tourism Promotion Association handles all personal information in strict accordance with the relevant laws, regulations, and other norms. Any customer personal information included in inquiries or registration forms will only be used to contact the customer directly, or in the scope necessary for confirming, arranging, and processing the received contents of the inquiry or registration.