Company Name
Nagai Kaguten (Nagai Furniture Store)
Year of establishment
Mar. 2nd, 1912
Type of industry
Manufacturing, sales of furniture
Main products
YONEZAWA TANSU, Japanese style furniture
Post code
992-0052
Company address
2-47 2-chome Marunouchi Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Representative
Shinjiro Nagai
Person in charge
Shinjiro Nagai
T E L
+81-(0)238-24-1777
F A X
+81-(0)238-24-5120
Main selling channels
info@nagaikaguten.jp https://nagaikaguten.jp/ In-house shop, Domestic EC site
EC sales results
Domestic EC site
Available language
Japanese
Since 1912, our company has been in the business of producing traditional Japanese furniture and traditional Yonezawa tansu (a type of chest of drawers, an example of which was on display at the World Expo Osaka 1970 craft pavilion entrance). As Yonezawa's sole surviving Yonezawa tansu maker, the company received recognition from the local government in 2006 for its contribution to the preservation of traditional craft skills. Yonezawa tansu production began over 400 years ago as a winter job for builders. Made from zelkova, chestnut, and other solid woods, the chests are finished with lacquer and embellished with hand-forged hardware often featuring decorative motifs such as cherry blossoms and butterflies, which make them both practical and decorative. Yonezawa tansu are recognized as one of the country's traditional crafts. It is also believed to be the origin of chest-making traditions in other parts of the country, such as Sendai tansu and Iwate's Iwayado tansu. One of the decorative motifs that often feature in Yonezawa tansu hardware is the swallowtail butterfly. This motif closely resembles the family crest of the Taira clan, a prominent 12th century military and political power. Yanazawa, a remote district of Yonezawa, is recorded to have harbored Taira clan members lost in battle. Therefore, it is believed that this design was originally commissioned by these clan members, and it later became widely used for Yonezawa tansu hardware.
Made from high-quality wood
The wood used for the production of our Yonezawa tansu is air-dried for at least five years, some for over fifteen years. Exposing wood to the elements rids it of sap and other moisture, preventing it from warping after it is made into products. We buy our wood as logs, which after being processed into lumber are stacked into piles. Stack upon stack can be seen outside our workshop. Thorough seasoning alone does not guarantee a warp-free, beautiful finish, however. Vitally important for achieving a quality product is the selection of good wood, and the successful processing of wood into lumber. We choose a type of elm known as yamanire, typically over 400 years old and preferably from a remote, rocky terrain, where harsh environmental conditions has made the wood strong.
Made with attention to detail
Our Yonezawa tansu are made carefully with great attention to detail, so that we can preserve for posterity this unique legacy inherited from our predecessors. We also maintain quality standards so as to meet the expectations of our customers, who have used Yonezawa tansu for many generations.
Brand name
Nagai Kaguten
Product name
Yonezawa Tansu, Kuruma Tansu, Karato
Generic name
Tansu (Chest of drawers)
Materials
Yama-keyaki 400 years old
Person in Charge
Shinjiro Nagai
Production area
Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Size
(Large)W97cm×H98.5cm×D45.5cm (Middle)W66cm×H69cm×D40cm
Weight
(Large)abt.60kg (Middle)abt.35kg
Domestic retail price
Japanese lacquer : (Large)JPY1,280,000 (Middle)JPY790,000
Imitation lacquer : (Large)JPY990,000 (Middle)JPY590,000
(tax included)
Chest of drawers made from solid 400-year-old yamakeyaki (ulmus parvifolia) wood. Finished with hand-forged decorative hardware for a robust look. This type of chest was originally for storing valuables, much like a safe, with wooden wheels so that it could be wheeled away to safety in an emergency.
Brand name
Nagai Kaguten
Product name
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing Tansu
Generic name
Tansu (Chest of drawers)
Materials
Yama-keyaki 400 years old, Solid wood
Person in Charge
Shinjiro Nagai
Production area
Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Size
W 105cm × H 99cm × D 45.5cm
Weight
abt.50kg
Domestic retail price
Japanese lacquer : JPY1,180,000 (tax included)
Imitation lacquer : JPY880,000(tax included)
Chest of drawers for clothes, consisting of two pieces that can be stacked or arranged side by side to make a TV stand. Front panels are made from 400-year-old yamanire (ulmus parvifolia) wood. Finished with natural lacquer. The hand-forged hardware represents the hoju—a gem or jewel traditionally believed to grant any wish.
Brand name
Nagai Kaguten
Product name
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing tansu, red-lacquered
Generic name
Tansu (Chest of drawers)
Materials
Linden (Mowada-no-ki, Shina-no-ki)
Person in Charge
Shinjiro Nagai
Production area
Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Size
W 105cm × H 99cm × D 45.5cm
Weight
abt.50kg
Domestic retail price
Japanese lacquer : JPY1,180,000 (tax included)
Cashew lacquer : JPY935,000(tax included)
Chest of drawers for clothes, consisting of two pieces that can be stacked or arranged side by side to make a TV stand. Red lacquer finish, traditionally believed to ward off misfortune and bring luck. The hand-forged hardware features a circular design filled with a cherry blossom motif.
Brand name
Nagai Kaguten
Product name
Yonezawa Tansu, Kaidan (Stairs) Tansu,red-lacquered
Generic name
Tansu (Chest of drawers)
Materials
Linden (Mowada-no-ki, Shina-no-ki)
Person in Charge
Shinjiro Nagai
Production area
Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Size
W 91,5cm × H 98,5cm × D 40cm
Weight
abt.25kg
Domestic retail price
Japanese lacquer : JPY638,000 (tax included)
Cashew lacquer : JPY473,000(tax included)"
Stairway chest of drawers finished in red lacquer, traditionally believed to ward off misfortune and bring luck. The black hardware contrasts brilliantly with the red body color.
Brand name
Nagai Kaguten
Product name
Yonezawa Tansu small red-lacquered temoto tansu
Generic name
Tansu (Chest of drawers)
Materials
Linden (Mowada-no-ki, Shina-no-ki)
Person in Charge
Shinjiro NAGAI
Production area
Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Size
W62×H35×D40cm
Weight
abt.10kg
Domestic retail price
Japanese lacquer : JPY250,000 (tax included)
Cashew lacquer : JPY170,000(tax included)
Small chest of drawers for keeping items handy. Finished in red lacquer. The bottom drawer can be locked.
Brand name
Nagai Kaguten
Product name
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing tansu, red-lacquered (upper)
Generic name
Tansu (Chest of drawers)
Materials
Linden (Mowada-no-ki, Shina-no-ki)
Person in Charge
Shinjiro NAGAI
Production area
Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Size
W105×H49.5×D45.5cm
Weight
abt.25kg
Domestic retail price
Japanese lacquer : JPY650,000 (tax included)
Cashew lacquer : JPY520,000(tax included)
Low chest of drawers approximately 50 cm in height. The modest height prevents rooms from feeling claustrophobic. The bottom right door opens to reveal two small drawers. Finished in red lacquer, traditionally believed to repel misfortune and bring luck. The color is more true red than vermilion.
Brand name
Nagai Kaguten
Product name
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing tansu, red-lacquered (lower)
Generic name
Tansu (Chest of drawers)
Materials
Linden (Mowada-no-ki, Shina-no-ki)
Person in Charge
Shinjiro NAGAI
Production area
Yonezawa Yamagata Japan
Size
W105×H49.5×D45.5cm
Weight
abt.25kg
Domestic retail price
Japanese lacquer : JPY530,000 (tax included)
Cashew lacquer : JPY415,000(tax included)
Low chest of drawers approximately 50 cm in height. The modest height prevents rooms from feeling claustrophobic. Drawers are approximately 20 cm deep. Finished in red lacquer, traditionally believed to repel misfortune and bring luck.As is often the case with red lacquer Yonezawa tansu, the color is more true red than vermilion.
Yonezawa Tansu, Kuruma Tansu, Karato
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing Tansu
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing tansu, red-lacquered
Yonezawa Tansu, Kaidan (Stairs) Tansu,red-lacquered
Yonezawa Tansu small red-lacquered temoto tansu
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing tansu, red-lacquered (upper)
Yonezawa Tansu, Clothing tansu, red-lacquered (lower)
