Company Profile
The appearance of Itogo: "Sai, Weaving, Silk, Beauty"
We worship the deity Sai and the Emperor to purify our mind and body.
Weaving, woven like a loom,
Silk, silk threads from silkworm cocoons,
Towards beautiful braids with beautiful appearance, shape and color.
ITOGO Iga Braid
Itogo Co., Ltd. is a long-established manufacturer of machine-woven braided cords, founded in 1954 (Showa 29) in the Iga region, one of the largest braided cord production areas in Japan, located near Iga Ueno Castle.
From hand-dyeing the silk thread to machine weaving and finishing, the company's skilled craftsmen carefully produce everything in-house, supporting the domestic demand for Japanese accessories. The company is challenging itself to discover new possibilities for Iga braids, and is working to expand into the fields of modern lifestyle goods and fashion with modern adaptations. Currently, the company is expanding globally as a shoelace manufacturer that utilizes braiding techniques, and as a world-class MADE IN JAPAN brand that preserves the traditions of Iga braids as a local traditional industry.
History of ITOGO
2024
Shoelaces adopted in 4x400m relay at Paris Olympics
Featured in Senken Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun
2023
Selected to tie souvenirs for the G7 Ise-Shima Transport Ministers Summit
Neck straps and shoe laces released in collaboration with The Pokémon Company
Won second place in a business contest sponsored by the Sanjusan Research Institute of the Sanjusan Financial Group with a shoelace theme
The project was broadcast worldwide on NHK WORLD's Biz Stream as a new form of traditional crafts.
Featured on CBC TV's "Chanto"
2022
Launch of glasses straps in collaboration with Beams Japan
Presented shoelaces at a business plan presentation as a representative of Mie Prefecture for the Mie Prefecture Industrial Support Center
Used by the Iga Hakuho High School Ekiden Club at the Toudaiji Racecourse
Featured on Tokai TV's "News One"
Featured in Baseball Magazine, Tarzan, and Get Navi magazines
The men's hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics will use Itogo shoelaces
Participated in the "Sea and Japan Project" (creating neck straps)
Featured in the Nikkei Shimbun, Chubu Keizai Shimbun, Chunichi Shimbun, and Asahi Shimbun
2021
Kumihimo shoelaces on sale
Shoelaces released in collaboration with Phiten
Create shoes for world-famous singers
Creating braids for store displays of famous Italian brands
Camera manufacturer creates straps for SLR cameras
2020
Kumihimo masks on sale
Braided masks are certified as an Iga brand.
Mie Tokowakokutai Medal Tape Production
Creating braids for store displays of famous Italian brands
2019
Exhibiting at the World Braiding Exhibition
Making medal strings for the World Championships
2017
Participating in the Kimono Project for the Tokyo Olympics
Tokyo Olympics merchandise creation
Tokyo merchandise creation
Selected to tie the souvenirs of the guests of honor at the Ise-Shima Summit
Creating obijime for the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting dinner
Creating official merchandise for a famous anime movie using braids as a theme
2016
Company Name
Itogo Co., Ltd.
Representative Director
Tomoyuki Matsuda
location
〒518-0847
2398-2 Ueno Teppocho, Iga City, Mie Prefecture
TEL/FAX
0595-21-3911/0595-24-3818
Founded
1954 (Showa 29)
Number of Employees
15 people (including 2 executives)
Company Name
15 braiding machines, 13 torsion machines, 15 bamboo machines, and a dedicated silk dyeing factory
