The most expensive metal after gold and silver, tin does not rust easily, possesses high antibacterial qualities, and is known as a material with low allergic reactivity. Its history dates back to around 1500 B.C. when the ancient Egyptian pharaohs were believed to have used tin tools. The Shoso-in in Japan also contains treasures made of tin. It has been believed that water in a tin container does not spoil, and tin removes excessive bitterness from sake and produces a better taste. For these reasons, tin has traditionally been used for sake and tea ware. NOUSAKU uses pure, 100% tin. It is common to add other metallic materials to provide durability and facilitate cutting work, but NOUSAKU uses tin without such additives. Pure 100% tin is soft and can easily be bent by hand, depending on its shape and thickness. The crackling sounds you hear when you bend tin is the sound of tin molecules rubbing against each other and is called the Tin Cry. People benefit from tin in all sorts of ways as a metal that is friendly on the human skin.
An alloy of copper and zinc, brass has been used from around 1000 B.C. The Roman Empire used brass as coin, while in Japan, brass products that came from China in the Nara Period were stored in the Shoso-in. The most common use of brass today is in the five-yen coin, but it also finds application in accessories, interior decorations, and construction metals, as well as in Buddhist altar fittings and as a material for instruments that benefit from its characteristic clear ringing sound. NOUSAKU craftsmen individually craft brass products. Even though they are all brass, each product looks different from the other, offering the opportunity to enjoy exquisitely unique products that embody the skill and passion of NOUSAKU.
An alloy of copper and tin, seidou (“blue copper”) is more commonly known as bronze. It is believed that bronze has a long history, dating back as far as 2000 B.C. in Mesopotamia. Bronze came to Japan around 300 B.C. in Kyushu, together with rice and iron. Used for mirrors and vessels as an anticorrosive material, bronze was also used to cast the Daibutsu in Nara and the Peace Statue in Nagasaki. NOUSAKU uses these qualities to produce the Moss Bonsai series, as well as made-to-order construction metal and art sculptures.

NOUSAKU uses a selection of materials and casting techniques including raw, self-hardening, lost wax, and our own original silicon casting method to establish a high-mix, low-volume production system. Working on the foundations of advanced techniques developed through history, we also employ new techniques such as NC processing. By achieving a balance between the machine and precision handwork of our craftsmen, we have been able to develop a flexible production system. All-inclusive production from planning to manufacturing ensures a stable supply of high-quality products.

Raw casting

Raw casting is a technique for casting by pressing out the intended form using mold sand mixed with a small amount of water and clay. It enables a mold to be created quickly, making it cost effective and appropriate for mass production. While the two-piece mold limits the product shape into something that can be “sandwiched,” the use of a middle mold can produce hollow products such as flower vases and Buddhist altar fittings. Unlike other casting methods, raw casting does not fire or add chemical treatments to the mold before casting, which is why it is called raw casting.