Introducing the charm and quality of Japanese-made five-toe socks. Crafted at TATSUMI TEXTILE Co., Ltd., a company with a history of 97 years!

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Do you have any Japanese products that you use regularly?

Japanese products are known for their excellent functionality, high quality, and cool image.

Some of you reading this blog may have even visited Japan, the country that creates such products.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to the charm of Japanese-made socks, as well as the unique qualities of our products, which are made in Nara—the top sock-producing region in Japan.

Let’s start by exploring the charm of Japanese-made socks.

Reasons Why Japanese-Made Socks Are Great

Currently, about 90% of the socks distributed in Japan are imported from overseas.

Despite the abundance of inexpensive socks available in Japan, what makes users who prefer the remaining 10% of Japanese-made socks?

What are reasons to continue to repurchase them once they've tried them?

First and foremost, the main charm of Japanese-made socks is their 'high quality.'

Approximately 88 million pairs of socks are produced annually in Japan.

Unlike socks mass-produced overseas, Japanese products are carefully crafted by artisans who take the time and effort to make each one individually.

As a result, the daily production volume is limited.

Many of these socks are made using special knitting machines that can only be repaired by skilled artisans who have been working with them for decades.

The outcome is a carefully crafted product, with only a few dozen pairs being made each day.

The next attraction is 'comfort and functionality.'

Even though only a few dozen pairs are produced each day, the high level of comfort and functionality is consistently maintained.

This is because every step, from sewing to inspection, is carefully checked and confirmed domestically before being delivered to customers.

For example, our FR-01 Super Strong Five-Toe Socks (Gutsman Five-Toe Socks with the strongest durability) take 21 minutes to knit one piece, and 42 minutes to complete one pair.

Additionally, only about 30-50 pairs can be produced per day.

This differs from the mass-production methods focused on efficiency overseas.

Furthermore, by using special knitting machines and employing meticulous manufacturing methods, we are able to create socks that are not only durable but also highly functional.

Nara Prefecture: The Top Sock Producer in Japan

Do you know which prefecture leads Japan in sock production?

It’s actually Nara Prefecture, famous for its deer, the Great Buddha, and temples.

The history of sock manufacturing in Nara dates back to 1910, during the Meiji period.

The industry began as a side business for farmers, who started producing socks using hand-powered knitting machines imported from the U.S.

Nara, located next to the commercial city of Osaka, had access to sales routes in Osaka, which helped the sock industry remain strong.

Today, Nara Prefecture accounts for about 60% of Japan’s sock production, making it one of the region’s proud local industries.

Although there have been concerns about its decline, Nara has maintained its sock industry through a “division of labor” system, ensuring that manufacturing remains rooted in the region and continues to produce high-quality products.

Our company, TATSUMI TEXTILE Co., Ltd., is located in this top sock-producing region of Nara.

3 Attractions of Tatsumi Textile Industries' Products

Our socks, made at Tatsumi Textile Industries in Nara—the No.1 region for domestic sock production.

Here are three key attractions of our products:

1. Local Manufacturing with a Complete In-House Process in Nara Prefecture

At our company, all processes from planning and development to manufacturing and sales are carried out domestically in Japan.

The reason for this is our priority on delivering "safety and security" to our customers.

Unlike mass-produced overseas products, our products undergo strict quality control, including raw material inspections, process checks, and product strength tests.

Furthermore, our socks are not manufactured solely by us; we have been operating a "division of labor" system for years, working with local industry partners to handle each process.

Through collaboration with skilled artisans at factories specializing in sewing, printing, embroidery, and final set-up, we create each pair of socks.

This thorough quality control ensures the stable supply of high-quality products while distinguishing us from overseas manufacturers.

2. Products Developed Through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration 

Our company develops products based on evidence obtained through joint research with Dr. Toshiyuki Tsujisaka from the Nara Prefecture Industrial Promotion Center, Dr. Yoichi Matsumoto from Shinshu University’s Faculty of Textiles, and Dr. Toyonori Nishimatsu.

Specifically, multiple physical properties such as strength, pressure, and breathability are developed using the research findings to establish benchmark values.

Our goal was to ensure that our products meet these set criteria.

On the other hand, for comfort, we set measurement targets focused on reducing fatigue and used our equipment to measure these values.

Quantifying these quality and comfort metrics not only leads to a satisfying purchasing experience for customers but also feeds back into our product planning.

3. Unique Knitting Techniques Developed Over 97 Years of Expertise 

Our five-toe socks are made using a special flat knitting machine designed specifically for producing five-toe socks.

To create each toe, the yarn is repeatedly cut as the socks are knitted, and the cut ends of the yarn appear at various points such as the toes, between the toes, and at the seam areas.

However, instead of cutting the yarn ends with scissors, which would reduce efficiency, our skilled workers use a crochet hook called a “tappi” to pull each yarn end inside the fabric manually.

If efficiency were prioritized, the yarn ends could simply be cut with scissors.

However, doing so would not only cause holes and fraying but also significantly reduce the durability of the product.

Mastering this manual “tappi” technique is a fundamental requirement for working at our company, and all of our staff are highly skilled in it.

Moreover, while focusing on strength, we also adjust the knitting technique in different areas of the sock to ensure comfort for the wearer.

This is just one example of our 97 years of knitting expertise, honed by experienced staff and unique methods.

As a result, our socks offer a level of quality and durability that overseas products simply cannot match.

Staff Recommended: GUTS-MAN Five-Toe Socks

Introducing the GUTS-MAN five-toe socks, born from our company’s passion and expertise.

Today, we’d like to feature the Super Strong Five-Toe Socks, which was the best-selling product on the GUTS-MAN Global Online Store in December.

Compared to other GUTS-MAN products, these socks contain about five times the amount of polyester, making them thicker and more durable.

They are so comfortable that they can withstand a 100km march without causing much fatigue, and they’ve passed an impressive friction test of over 12,000 cycles.

These socks offer the perfect combination of high quality, comfort, and functionality, all crafted with meticulous care in Japan.

We encourage you to try them on and experience the remarkable comfort and durability for yourself!

【FR】Super Strong Five Toe Socks

Thank you!