"SUGATA," modern cutlery created with cutting-edge technology in Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture / Connoisseur's Choice

Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture, is famous as the holy land of cutlery. The cutlery, which reflects cutting-edge surface processing technology, combines a unique form reminiscent of chopsticks with easy-to-use functionality. We highly recommend it as a gift this winter.

Stainless steel cutlery with a design inspired by chopsticks

　Tsubame City in Niigata Prefecture is a city that has been producing Western-style metal tableware since the Meiji era. Currently, it boasts a 90% share of the national cutlery market and is home to some of the world's leading manufacturers.

　For example, Yamazaki Metal Industry's "YAMACO" cutlery was chosen for the banquet held in 1991 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Nobel Prize. Furthermore, the "Omotenashi Cutlery" produced by the Japan Metal Western Tableware Industry Association was adopted in the cafeteria of the Olympic and Paralympic Village in Tokyo this summer, and Tsubame City's cutlery has grown to the point where it can be proud of on the world stage. Items of this class are often made from high-quality stainless steel and are carefully finished.

　When it comes to silver cutlery, rather than stainless steel, brands like Christofle from France, Mappin & Webb from the UK, and Wako from Ginza are well-known, but they are expensive and require regular maintenance. For everyday use, it is best to go for practical stainless steel cutlery.

　So, this time we would like to introduce the "SUGATA" stainless steel cutlery, developed by Nakano Kagaku (Tsubame City) under its original brand "As it is." It comes in three colors: black, white, and silver, and the black version makes use of the cutting-edge metal surface processing technology that the company has perfected. This is not a paint job, but a technology that uses a thin, transparent oxide film, which does not lose the texture of the metal and has excellent weather resistance and corrosion resistance.

　The white version has a matte finish with a special matte surface treatment. The silver version has a glossy mirror finish. The inspiration for the design of "SUGATA" is, of course, chopsticks! The chopsticks are designed to fit comfortably in the hand. The modern form, which emphasizes straight lines, seems to suit both modern Japanese and Western tableware.

"SUGATA" is sold at "futo," a gift specialty store produced by stylist Mana Kawai. The store is known for its selection of items that value the stories behind them. It is a great item to recommend as a gift for the upcoming Christmas season.