VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

In 1915, Shigekichi HIRAOKA, the first generation of the company, started a business of making braided cords to fasten kimono sashes, and the second generation started a business of making ceremonial rings. What kind of business is the yuinou business?

It may not be familiar to younger people, but yuinou is a traditional Japanese form of engagement, a ceremony to celebrate the consummation of a betrothal between two families. At Hiraoka Yuinou-ho, we handle the gift bags and yuinou goods that both families present to each other upon the consummation of their engagement. The best part of this job is that we can be involved in life's milestones, such as marriage and childbirth. It is a very rewarding job that allows us to add color to the scenes of people's celebrations.

In recent years, an increasing number of couples have been holding simple ceremonies such as weddings and receptions. In 2018, we developed a new series of nuptial gifts called “Ka-wa-yu-i-no-u,” which matches simple wedding ceremonies. We have created simple yet cute yuinou goods that are in keeping with tradition, but also with today's trends.

How did Ms. HIRAOKA develop her career?

I started helping “Hiraoka Yuinou-ho” when I got married. I learned mizuhiki from my mother-in-law, who is the second generation, while selling yuinou goods at a department store in Kanazawa City. My mother told me, “You have to get the hang of it yourself to be able to do it,” and I learned mizuhiki through trial and error while watching her work. The charm of mizuhiki is that the possibilities are endless depending on the combination of colors.In 2018, after I took over the business and became the representative, I developed “Kanazawa thin line”, which is about half the thickness of conventional mizuhiki. Since then, we have been producing and producing mizuhiki accessories and small articles with shiny and delicate designs using “Kanazawa thin line” and other mizuhiki.

The mizuhiki experience in a quaint building that has been certified as a “Kanazawa Machiya” is very popular.

Originally, we offered the mizuhiki experience in a corner of a department store in Kanazawa City, and it was so popular that we created a new experience space and enhanced the content of the experience when we renovated our main store.

You can choose your favorite color of mizuhiki to make earrings, pierced earrings, brooches, gold seal ornaments, message cards, and more. We have a variety of visitors, including families, couples, friends, and foreigners. Children as young as 5 or 6 years old can make mizuhiki work. I have lectured to many people in the past, so I am confident in my ability to teach! We hope you will master Mizuhiki through this experience.

I was impressed that everyone who participated in the class seemed to enjoy making mizuhiki. Some of them shouted “Cute!”, Some of them even exclaimed, “It's so cute! In fact, the color matching and designs of our customers sometimes serve as inspiration for new products.

Please tell us about Kanazawa's attractions and recommended spots.

As we have welcomed a variety of customers through our experiences, we began to visit nearby tourist attractions once again!

One of my favorites is the D.T. Suzuki Museum. Designed by the international architect Yoshio TANIGUCHI, the museum has a wonderful and tranquil atmosphere. The Green Path and Art Path connecting “ D.T. Suzuki Museum” and “Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art” is a pleasant walk and a hidden spot.

What does Kanazawa mean to you?

For me, Kanazawa is “the place where I was raised. Kanazawa has traditions and culture that go back a long time, but it is also flexible and open-minded enough to adopt new things. I think the appeal of Kanazawa is that it has a large sense of nostalgia that nurtures the humanity of the people who live here.

Shinko HIRAOKA, Hiraoka Yuinou-ho

In 2018, she became the representative of Hiraoka Yuinou-ho. In the same year, she developed “Kanazawa fine mizuhiki thin line” and at the same time produced a new series of yuinou goods , “KA-WA-YU-I-NOU”. She regards mizuhiki and yuinou as an important culture that should be preserved for future generations, and is taking on new challenges while preserving traditions.