Wholesale Silverware from Tokyo: Timeless Craftsmanship by Nisshin Kikinzoku
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Preserving the Art of Tokyo Silverware Since 1964
Founded in 1964, Nisshin Kikinzoku has been dedicated to preserving and innovating the traditional craftsmanship of Tokyo silverware. In 2009, the company was officially recognized by the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry for its high-level technical expertise and contribution to the “Tokyo Silverware Branding Project,” which promotes regional craftsmanship rooted in Edo-period techniques.
CEO Message
Thank you sincerely for taking the time to view our silver creations.
Each piece is crafted with care, quietly intended to accompany and enrich your daily life.
Silver is a material that deepens over time—its character gradually shaped by the hands that use it. Touched, polished, and lived with, it transforms into something uniquely yours. In that sense, silver is truly a "living material".
What guides my hands is the memory of touch passed down from my master—nuances of flame, the rhythm of hammer strikes, subtle shifts in pressure. These intangible sensations have become the foundation of my work today.
I believe it is my duty to preserve this tactile memory and pass it on to the next generation.
At the heart of my philosophy is the Japanese concept of “yo no bi”—the beauty of utility.
A silver utensil that blends seamlessly into daily life, growing more beautiful through use—within such quiet presence, I believe, lies true beauty.
Though these are tools, I hope they also nourish the spirit.
May they bring a sense of calm when held in your hands, a deepening richness over time, and a value that grows with each passing day.
It would bring me great joy if our silverware, crafted with such intention, finds a quiet home in your life—wherever in the world you may be—and becomes something you cherish for years to come.
Each piece is crafted with care, quietly intended to accompany and enrich your daily life.
Silver is a material that deepens over time—its character gradually shaped by the hands that use it. Touched, polished, and lived with, it transforms into something uniquely yours. In that sense, silver is truly a "living material".
What guides my hands is the memory of touch passed down from my master—nuances of flame, the rhythm of hammer strikes, subtle shifts in pressure. These intangible sensations have become the foundation of my work today.
I believe it is my duty to preserve this tactile memory and pass it on to the next generation.
At the heart of my philosophy is the Japanese concept of “yo no bi”—the beauty of utility.
A silver utensil that blends seamlessly into daily life, growing more beautiful through use—within such quiet presence, I believe, lies true beauty.
Though these are tools, I hope they also nourish the spirit.
May they bring a sense of calm when held in your hands, a deepening richness over time, and a value that grows with each passing day.
It would bring me great joy if our silverware, crafted with such intention, finds a quiet home in your life—wherever in the world you may be—and becomes something you cherish for years to come.
Tokyo Silverware: The Legacy of Master Artisans from Edo to Today
Tokyo Silverware is a traditional craft designated by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and is primarily produced in the Taito, Bunkyo, and Arakawa wards of Tokyo. As one of Tokyo’s officially recognized traditional industries, this exquisite silverwork incorporates sophisticated techniques such as metal hammering, engraving, and inlay—methods that originated in the esteemed Hirata family line.
Refined through generations of Edo-era craftsmanship, Tokyo Silverware has come to symbolize Japan’s proud artisanal heritage and continues to be admired around the world today.
At Nisshin Kikinzoku, they carry on three generations of expertise as modern successors to the “Ginshi”—silver masters—whose lineage dates back to the late Edo period. Today, their craft represents the 12th generation of traditional silver artistry.
The origins of Tokyo Silverware are attributed to Hirata Zennojō. The Hirata family preserved and perfected these methods through nine generations. The last of this direct line, the 9th master Hirata Sōdō, passed the tradition to his top apprentice, Kamikawa Sōshō I, who went on to establish Nisshin Kikinzoku. His successor, Kamikawa Sōshō II, inherited the full breadth of Edo silverwork tradition, now passed down through 11 generations.
Today, they continue to nurture four dedicated apprentices as they work together to advance and protect this time-honored craft for the future.
Refined through generations of Edo-era craftsmanship, Tokyo Silverware has come to symbolize Japan’s proud artisanal heritage and continues to be admired around the world today.
At Nisshin Kikinzoku, they carry on three generations of expertise as modern successors to the “Ginshi”—silver masters—whose lineage dates back to the late Edo period. Today, their craft represents the 12th generation of traditional silver artistry.
The origins of Tokyo Silverware are attributed to Hirata Zennojō. The Hirata family preserved and perfected these methods through nine generations. The last of this direct line, the 9th master Hirata Sōdō, passed the tradition to his top apprentice, Kamikawa Sōshō I, who went on to establish Nisshin Kikinzoku. His successor, Kamikawa Sōshō II, inherited the full breadth of Edo silverwork tradition, now passed down through 11 generations.
Today, they continue to nurture four dedicated apprentices as they work together to advance and protect this time-honored craft for the future.
Awards
Their representative artisan has received numerous prestigious awards in recognition of their exceptional skill in traditional silver craftsmanship:
2002: Awarded as an Outstanding Skilled Artisan in Traditional Crafts, Taito Ward, Tokyo
2005: Certified Traditional Craftsperson in Tokyo Silverware by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
2006: Received the Governor’s Award as an Outstanding Skilled Artisan (Tokyo Meister), Tokyo Metropolitan Government
2009: Honored with the Medal for Excellence in Craftsmanship (Contemporary Master Craftsman)
2009: Awarded the Higashikuninomiya Culture Award
2014: Conferred the Medal with Yellow Ribbon by the Japanese Government
2018: Recognized for Distinguished Service by the Japan Association of Traditional Craft Artisans
2019: Certified as a Traditional Artisan by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
2002: Awarded as an Outstanding Skilled Artisan in Traditional Crafts, Taito Ward, Tokyo
2005: Certified Traditional Craftsperson in Tokyo Silverware by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
2006: Received the Governor’s Award as an Outstanding Skilled Artisan (Tokyo Meister), Tokyo Metropolitan Government
2009: Honored with the Medal for Excellence in Craftsmanship (Contemporary Master Craftsman)
2009: Awarded the Higashikuninomiya Culture Award
2014: Conferred the Medal with Yellow Ribbon by the Japanese Government
2018: Recognized for Distinguished Service by the Japan Association of Traditional Craft Artisans
2019: Certified as a Traditional Artisan by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
