Nakagawa Pop-up Shop Shoreditch

Nakagawa's story begins in 1716, when our founder Nakaya Kihei established a merchant business specialising in Nara-Sarashi — exquisite bleached ramie cloth prized for its remarkable quality and craftsmanship. From these humble beginnings in Japan's ancient capital of Nara, our legacy of preserving traditional craft while embracing necessary innovation was born. For over three centuries, each generation has faced the challenge of keeping Japanese heritage crafts alive through changing times. When our traditional customers—the samurai class—disappeared during the Meiji era, we nearly closed. Yet through resilience and adaptation, we survived by continuously evolving while maintaining our core commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. Today, as Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, we operate as more than a traditional manufacturer. We are cultural custodians on a mission: "Revitalising Japanese Kogei!" Our vision extends far beyond our own products—we actively support the revival of endangered craft traditions across Japan, sharing our expertise to help artisan communities thrive. We collaborate with more than 800 skilled craftspeople across Japan's diverse Kogei regions, from ceramic masters in Shigaraki and Arita to textile artisans in Nara and metalworkers in Takaoka. Each partnership honours regional materials, techniques, and customs while thoughtfully updating designs for contemporary living. What makes our approach unique is how we preserve crafts through practical innovation. Take our signature Hana Fukin dishcloths—winner of the Good Design Gold Award. When Nara's traditional mosquito net industry declined with the rise of air conditioning, we reimagined this beautiful, functional fabric as kitchen cloths. The loose weave originally designed to let breezes in while keeping insects out proved perfect for modern kitchens: highly absorbent, quick-drying, and softening beautifully with use. This philosophy—preservation through transformation—guides everything we create. Our "Regional Ceramics" series maintains each pottery region's traditional materials and techniques while offering contemporary shapes suitable for any cuisine. Our carefully selected kitchen tools combine time-tested functionality with modern convenience, like our "Optimal Kitchen Knife" developed with Seki's renowned bladesmiths—sized for today's smaller households yet maintaining the precision of traditional Japanese blade-making. Through this London pop-up, we invite visitors to experience a curated selection of textiles, ceramics, lacquerware, and home accessories that embody our philosophy of "fulfilling lifestyle." Each piece represents the marriage of centuries-old Japanese aesthetic sensibility with modern, sustainable living practices. From hand-thrown tea bowls that capture the essence of seasonal beauty to everyday essentials that bring mindful craftsmanship into daily routines, our collection demonstrates how traditional skills can enrich contemporary life. We believe that true sustainability lies not in disposable convenience but in objects made with intention, designed for longevity, and created to develop character through use. Our products invite you to slow down, appreciate quality, and find beauty in everyday moments—values that Japanese culture has treasured for generations and that feel increasingly relevant in our fast-paced world. This pop-up represents more than commerce—it's a cultural exchange. We hope to share not just beautiful objects but the deeper philosophy behind them: that caring for things connects us to the hands that made them, to the materials of the earth, and to traditions that deserve to flourish for another 300 years. Welcome to Nakagawa's London debut, where three centuries of Japanese craftsmanship meets contemporary British design sensibility.