The Sewing Machine Industry In Japan

Sewing machines were introduced in Japan in 1860. Japan had domestic producers of
industrial sewing during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) and the Taisho Period (1912-26),
but it took some time for them to be manufactured domestically, so the consumer sewing
machine market was held by Singer sewing machines imported from the U.S. After
1931, the high dollar/weak yen weakened the competitiveness of imported sewing
machines and more sewing machines began to be produced domestically. After 1937,
trade became restricted, sewing machine imports dramatically decreased, and domestic
production increased.

As sewing machines couldn't be imported due to the World War, Mitsubishi Electric
Corp. and Brother Industries Ltd. produced industrial sewing machines for military
uniforms, at the request of the Ministry of Clothing. After the War, the munitions
factories were converted, and sewing machines were produced. Conditions in post-war
Japan were conducive to the creation of a domestic and export sewing machine industry:

Sewing machines could be manufactured as parts and subassemblies in separate

A large labor force of machinists looking for work

Idle small-scale machine shops in the Osaka area

Surplus of machine tools from the war industries

The Japanese government was subsidizing up to 50 percent of the cost of

Greater consumer demand in the U.S. market than Singer could supply

Singer filed suit against some of the Japanese sewing machine companies for
infringement of the Singer patent and the use of the Singer name (Seager), but also
pursued the creation of a joint venture, the Pine Machine, with a subsidiary of Nippon
Steel. The Japanese government did not give approval to the joint venture Pine Machine
until the other domestic sewing machine companies were strong enough to withstand the
competition.

It was difficult for the Japanese sewing machine manufacturers to break into the
European markets because Europe applied the same sort of protective tariffs that Japan
used to keep out competition. However Japan solicited the aid of European machine tool
manufacturers because an expansion of sewing machine manufacture in Japan would
increase the demand for European machine tools. The Japanese sewing machine
companies got big orders from German sewing machine companies by showing them that
Japan was manufacturing parts for their arch-rival Singer.
 Sewing machine manufacture was just about the first major export industry developed
in Japan after World War II. In recent years, however, exports have been decreasing
sharply, as imports overflow into the market. Most of the imports are produced by
Japanese companies in China and by Taiwanese' manufacturers. In 1995, 1,101,000 units
of home sewing machines were imported, amounting to 11.2 billion yen (a 9.0%
increase). In addition, 103,000 units of high quality sewing machines worth 5,002
million yen were exported (a 9.3% decrease).

On the other hand, exports of industrial sewing machines have still remained high, with
imports increasing steadily. In 1995, 91,000 units were imported, amounting to 4,822
million yen (a 28.5% increase). The quantity and value of exports has been decreasing
since 1931. In 1995, export quantity was 964,000 units for 93,541 million yen (a 5.6%
decrease). However, as of 1996, Japan had a 70% share of the industrial sewing
machines production industry.

All of the Japanese manufacturers were assigned and used a JA number on their
machines. The JA # could usually be found under the front lip or in the underside of the
casting. They would never give the list of JA numbers out, but it is known that Janome
was assigned JA-2.

Some History

1908 - Kanekichi Yasui, a compulsive tinkerer, quits his job and expands his part-time
business into a full-time career manufacturing sewing machine parts and repairing sewing
machines. The Yasui Sewing Machine Co. is established.

1921 - Pine Sewing Machine Factory founded

1923 - Taking advantage of the local climate and resources, Happy started off in the
foundry industry. Corporate Headquarters presently occupies site of original foundry.

1925 - Masayoshi and Jitsuichi Yasui, two of Kanekichi’s 10 children, take over the
family business after Kanekichi's death. Yasui Sewing Machine Co. name changed to
Yasui Brothers Sewing Machine Company.

1927 – The Yasui Brothers build the first “Made in Japan” sewing machine. At this time,
USA-made Singer dominated the Japanese sewing machine market with 90% of the
market share. An interesting note: The Yasuis originally chose the name “Sister” for their
new machines out of respect for the many women who would use them, but the since the
name was already registered they decided to use “Brother.”

Manjiro Kondo, who had worked for Industrial Dept. of Japan Branch of The
Singer Company, founded Kondo Sewing Machine Company in Osaka and began to
engage in the import and sales of industrial sewing machines; then manufacturing and
export of sewing machines for knitted materials.

1928 - Yasui Brothers Sewing Machine Co. starts selling industrial sewing machines.
1932 - Jitsuichi Yasui completes his prototype of an improved shuttle hook, the most
sensitive of all sewing machine parts. Tests proved it far superior to its German
counterparts.

Singer’s 6,000 Japanese salesmen went on strike, crippling the giant company and
opening the door of opportunity for other sewing machine manufacturers.

1934 - The organizer of the Singer strike, a crackerjack salesman named Tosaku
Yamamoto, partners with the Yasui Brothers to create Nippon Sewing Machine
Manufacturing Co.

1938 - About 900 machinery makers in the Tokyo area formed the Tokyo Juki
Manufacturers Association. 100,000 sewing machines were produced in 1938.

1939 - The Riccar Company was founded under the name of Nippon Shokusan Kogyo,
which was later changed to Rikagaku Kogyo.

1942 - The Seiko Sewing Machine Co., Ltd. was established.

1943 - the Tokyo Juki Manufacturers Association was reorganized as the Tokyo Juki
Industrial Co. Ltd.

1945 - The Tokai Hikoki Co., Ltd switched from making aircraft engines to sewing
machines. The company later became Aisin Seiki and began manufacturing Toyota
sewing machines.

1944 - Tokai Industrial Sewing Machine Co. Ltd., the parent company of the Tajima
Group, was established to sell and repair sewing machines for home and industrial use.

1946 - Starting as a plant of Nakajima Aircraft Hamamatsu manufactory, the Rhythm

The first TOYOTA sewing machine was built under the strict supervision of
Kiichiro Toyoda himself, the founder of TOYOTA Motor Corporation. Kiichiro Toyoda
had a strong belief that home-use products must be "functional" but yet "beautiful" at the
same time. The first TOYOTA sewing machine HA-1 type was so highly evaluated that it
was allowed to use the same TOYOTA trademark as the TOYOTA automobiles.

1947 - Happy Tokyo office opens.

Juki Manufactures its first home sewing machine.

1948 - Happy Osaka office opens. Company starts exporting sewing machines.
 Rikagaku Kogyo began to manufacture sewing machines in Tachikawa, Tokyo
and initiated sales by way of subscription and installments. This way of selling was an
utterly new concept in the sewing machine industry in Japan.

1949 - The Maruzen Mischin Company is established and the first plant is built up to start
the wholesale of sewing machines and parts.

- Rikagaku Kogyo changes its name to the Riccar Sewing Machine Company,
Ltd.

1950 - Soryu begins supplying Sears Kenmore sewing machines. This arrangement lasts
until 1977.

70%-80% of home sewing machines produced in Japan were exported.

Masayoshi Yasui travels to the United States to take a good look at the Singer
Sewing Machine Company. He thought that an operation as large as Singer’s had to have
its share of merits, but also demerits. He felt that such a giant would be incapable of
making sharp and quick turns in production, which a small company would be capable of
making easily. One look at the Singer plant in New Jersey, and the brothers felt that they
could compete with the sewing machine giant. It was a hunch, but one of many hunches
that the Yasuis eventually became known for.

1951 - Over 1,000,000 units were produced in Japan.

1952 - After almost three years in business, Maruzen launches the first zigzag sewing
machine on the Japanese market.

1952 - Toyota reached production of 100,000 units of sewing machines.

Juki begins selling industrial sewing machines.

1953 - Happy changed its name to Happy Sewing Machine Mfg Co. LTD

Toyota introduced its first zig zag machine for home use - the TZ-1.

1954 - Pine Sewing Machine Company name was changed to Janome. In Japanese, the
word Janome (pronounced ja-NO-me) means "eye of the snake." The company earned
this name in the 1920s when founder Yosaku Ose, a pioneer in Japanese sewing
manufacturing, began to use the round 15 class metal bobbin system instead of the
traditional long shuttle type. The Japanese thought the new round bobbin looked like a
snake's eye. The innovative design earned the company its name.

1955 - Happy started direct sales of sewing equipment to Montgomery Wards, which was
sold under the Montgomery Ward label (Signature).
1959 - Yoshio Shibata, founder and president of Barudan Co. Ltd., develops the first
embroidery machine in Japan. This machine forms the base of the modern embroidery
industry.

1961 - Maruzen becomes the top exporter of home-used sewing machines.

Toyota introduced a light alloy zig zag sewing machine - the Z7221

1960 - Janome acquires New Home.

1962 - Yasui Brothers Sewing Machine Co. changes its name to Brother Industries Ltd.

1965 - Happy splits into two divisions - Happy Sewing Machine Division and Happy
Machinery Division.

1973 - Riccar sewing Machine Company Ltd changed its name to Riccar Company Ltd.

1977 - Maruzen begins supplying Sears Kenmore sewing machines. This alliance lasts
for ten years.

1978 - The Maruzen Company changes its name to Jaguar Sewing Machines Company.

1980 - Happy concentrates on the development and manufacturing of computerized

1984 - Happy restructures into the Sewing Machine Division, Mechatronic Division and
Machinery Division.

1985 - Happy Sewing Machine Manufacturing Co. Ltd. changes its name to Happy
Industrial Corp.

1987 - Janome begins supplying Sears Kenmore sewing machines

1989 - Jaguar changes its name and becomes Jaguar Co., Ltd