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In response to the boom of pipes, TSUGE had to put increasing efforts in making pipes rather than cigarette holders. The compayny hired craftsmen who made umbrella handles and started to mass produce billiard and bent billiard pipes using cherry wood to meet the rapidly growing market demand. The company developed to become one of the most cutting edge companies in Japan, having 120 craftsmen at its peak. | In response to the boom of pipes, TSUGE had to put increasing efforts in making pipes rather than cigarette holders. The compayny hired craftsmen who made umbrella handles and started to mass produce billiard and bent billiard pipes using cherry wood to meet the rapidly growing market demand. The company developed to become one of the most cutting edge companies in Japan, having 120 craftsmen at its peak. | ||
[[Image:Tsuge Pipe01.jpg | [[Image:Tsuge Pipe01.jpg|thumb]][[Image:Tsuge Pipe02.jpg|right|thumb]][[Image:Tsuge Pipe03.jpg|thumb]][[Image:Tsuge Pipe04.jpg|right|thumb]] | ||
=== 1950--Tsuge Started Making Prodcts Eyeing Overseas Markets === | === 1950--Tsuge Started Making Prodcts Eyeing Overseas Markets === | ||
When imported briar became available in the 1950's, TSUGE started making briar pipes. Kyoichiro requested an ivory carver to engrave traditional Japanese motifs such as | When imported briar became available in the 1950's, TSUGE started making briar pipes. Kyoichiro requested an ivory carver to engrave traditional Japanese motifs such as Mt. Fuji, three monkeys, Toshogu, and Geisha on pipe bowls. The pipes were sold to the US soldiers as souvenirs at the Imperial Hotel and Yokohama officers club, and at the shops like PX and USO. In the 1960's a demand of pipes for soldiers increased due to the aggravation of the Vietnam War and a large amount of cherry wood pipes made in Japan were exported to Saigon. | ||
=== 1970 --Excellent Craftsmanship Acclaimed by the World === | === 1970 --Excellent Craftsmanship Acclaimed by the World === | ||
In the 1970's the company lost its share to the emerging Asian counties in the severe price competition resulted from the sharp hike in the yen. In order to make competitive high value-added pipes, the company sent six craftsmen to the pipe workshops in Italy and Denmark to acquire advanced skills of pipemaking from Europe. Two craftsment, Fukado and Sato, studied under the great masters [[Sixten Ivarson]] and [[Jørgen Larsen]] to touch the essence of their freehand pipe making.<br> | In the 1970's the company lost its share to the emerging Asian counties in the severe price competition resulted from the sharp hike in the yen. In order to make competitive high value-added pipes, the company sent six craftsmen to the pipe workshops in Italy and Denmark to acquire advanced skills of pipemaking from Europe. Two craftsment, Fukado and Sato, studied under the great masters [[Sixten Ivarson]] and [[Jørgen Larsen]] to touch the essence of their freehand pipe making.<br> | ||
Upon returning to Japan, they immediately started working on freehand pipes. At first, the pipes were exported to the US and earned a good reputation. Then Tsuge received an offer from Germany that led to a success in Europe. When freehand pipes and series pipes started to be sold at famous smoking goods shops in Germany and Switzerland, people said, " | Upon returning to Japan, they immediately started working on freehand pipes. At first, the pipes were exported to the US and earned a good reputation. Then Tsuge received an offer from Germany that led to a success in Europe. When freehand pipes and series pipes started to be sold at famous smoking goods shops in Germany and Switzerland, people said, "Japan has sent us cars and motorcycles, and now pipes, too!" | ||
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px caption="2007 Catalog cover and several pages, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | |||
File:Tsuge1.jpg | |||
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</gallery> | |||
<gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Example and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | |||
File:Tsuge01.jpg | |||
File:Tsuge07.jpg | |||
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File:Tsuge09.jpg | |||
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</gallery> | |||
*See also [[Ikebana]] | *See also [[Ikebana]] | ||