Ogaki City is the second largest city in Gifu Prefecture. Did you know that Ogaki City is the number one production area in Japan, producing about 80% of the nationwide production of "Kimasu"? There are 5 manufacturers in Ogaki City that produce 2 million Masu annually. This time, we would like to introduce one of them, Ohashi Ryoki.

It is a Masu maker that continues to spread the charm of Masu by opening a shop specializing in Masu, “Masu Kobo Masuya,” and a “Masu”-themed café, “masu cafe.”

The largest production volume in Japan! Town of Masu "Ogaki"

First of all, I would like to introduce how to make masu in Ogaki City.

Ogaki City is the largest producer of "wooden Masu" in Japan, accounting for about 80% of the nation's production. Masu is an ancient Japanese measuring instrument that was originally used to measure rice and other items. It was excavated from Heijo-kyo Capital in Nara 1,200 years ago.

The reason why Masu-making has flourished in Ogaki is related to the fact that Masu-making was flourishing in Nagoya, which used to be a major accumulation area for Kiso cypress. In the mid-Meiji period, one of the craftsmen finished his apprenticeship and returned to Ogaki from Nagoya, so Masu began to be made in Ogaki as well. While Masu-making in Nagoya gradually declined, Masu-making in Ogaki revived after the city was reduced to a burnt field in the Pacific War, and gradually flourished. Currently, they are producing 2 million Masu a year.

69 years of making Masu. "Ohashi Ryoki"

"Color Masu"

Ohashi Ryoki was founded in 1950 as a company that specializes in the production of traditional Japanese tools, Masu. This is a long-established Masu manufacturer that has been making Masu for 69 years.

While utilizing their 69 years of experience and technology, they continue to take on various challenges to overturn the conventional concept of Masu. For example, "Color Masu," a colorful Masu with vivid colors, was created based on the concept of "making Masu cool and stylish," and is sold at the Paul Smith store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.