“New Value in Craftsmanship through Design”

Ishinomaki Laboratory was started as a public facility – where designers and volunteers led by architect Keiji Ashizawa collected and provided tools and lumber for the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, supporting the local communities through DIY activities　that involved making things together.
This voluntary activity that began as a way to support the affected areas reached the crossroads of whether to continue while receiving support from volunteers, or to switch to becoming an independent operation. On March 11, 2014, we established the company as “Ishinomaki Laboratory”, adding design value to the craftsmanship and to become self-supporting through sales from both within and outside the region. Working with designers in Japan and overseas, we create products with functional yet attractive designs, based on an approach of using constrained materials and techniques born from the disaster. In the MADE IN LOCAL project, we collaborate with workshops in more than 10 countries to create products that make use of the resources of each country and region.

As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of our brand’s establishment, we have entered into a new partnership today with Karimoku Furniture, a leading wooden manufacturer in Japan, to respond to the current social situations and add new value to our lifestyles.
We have been collaborating with Karimoku Furniture on a project basis, and through this business partnership we aim to grow into one of the leading furniture brands in Japan. We believe that this path will create synergy between the strength of Ishinomaki Laboratory’s designs and the technical expertise of Karimoku Furniture in accordance with each other's philosophies.

– Background of the Business Partnership
The global demand for timber has recently increased, prices have skyrocketed and natural forest resources have been decreasing. In contrast, Japanese satoyama forests are becoming aged to a great extent, causing various problems such as the impact on the ecosystem and conservation.
However, most hardwood trees, including those in Japan’s satoyama forest, are rarely used for lumber and are mostly processed into chips. Effective use of this domestic resource and the creation of a new eco-system will better revitalize these forestry landscapes.
Broad-leaved trees, also known as hardwoods, are generally hard and difficult to process, making it challenging for us to handle them without special processing equipment. Through our partnership with Karimoku Furniture, we will propose a new model of sustainable manufacturing by using a variety of types of lumber, mainly hardwoods from Japanese satoyama forests.

– Our Future Activities
In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we began co-creating with local communities in response to the needs of the affected areas. However, our true mission lies in the “craftsmanship” that brings new value to our daily lives through the power of design.
Ishinomaki Laboratory’s products are not only functional but also serve as a work of art that tells a story – such as the ISHINOMAKI STOOL which represents our design philosophy and enriches the lives of the people that use them.
Through this partnership with Karimoku Furniture, we will also propose a new model of sustainable craftsmanship.

Under the motto of creating “new value in craftsmanship through design,” we will continue to make beautiful products that blend into the daily lives of the people who use them, and remain committed to the quality and design that will continue to be loved by generations to come.
With the power of design, we will bring new value to daily life and contribute to the realization of a better world through products that harmonize with the environment.

■ Ishinomaki Laboratory Company Profile
Company Name: Ishinomaki Laboratory Inc.
Location: 164-3 Sakaeda, Watanoha, Ishinomaki-city, Miyagi pref. 986-2135 Japan
Establishment: March 11, 2014
URL ：https://ishinomaki-lab.org

■ Karimoku Furniture Company Profile
Company Name: Karimoku Furniture Inc.
Location: 108 Kaieicho, Fujie, Higashiuracho, Chitagun, Aichi 470-2191, Japan
Establishment: February 5, 1947
URL ：https://www.karimoku.co.jp