Sashimaya
The Story of Sashimaya Printing
Founded in the early Meiji era and now in its seventh generation — a neighbourhood print shop that has grown up alongside the castle town of Aizu.
A Message from the Owner
Sashimaya Printing was founded in the early Meiji era. I am the seventh generation to run it.
In the beginning the family dealt in washi paper and made lanterns. By the Meiji period we had started producing hantori-cho — ledgers stamped with a seal to record the handover of money and goods — and daifuku-cho, the account books kept by merchant houses. These were essential tools of the trade for the merchants of the Aizuwakamatsu castle town, and we were entrusted with them.
In time the account books became ruled sales ledgers and cash books. Woodblocks were used to draw those ruled lines, then rubber plates, then zinc plates — and as the method of printing changed, so did we, until we had become a printing company.
Today we handle printing of every kind, from something as small as a business card or postcard to large wrapping paper. As digital tools continue to multiply the ways information travels, our work stays the same: to keep answering what our customers need.
In recent years we have also begun developing our own products, drawing on the skills built up over that time, with the folk toys of Aizu as our starting point. Work made to a customer's order and work we plan ourselves come from the same root: giving something a form. Both matter to us equally.
Rather than trying to change all at once, we value the small changes made day by day. From the hantori-cho to the daifuku-cho, from woodblock to rubber plate to zinc — the generations before us must also have shifted their shape little by little, attending to whatever was in front of them. We will keep adjusting as the times ask us to, and keep working close to the people we serve.
Kotaro Igarashi, Owner, Sashimaya Printing Co., Ltd.
From Washi Paper to Printing, and on to Making Products
Changing shape with the times, while supporting the trade of Aizu.
Washi paper and lanterns
The business began dealing in washi paper and making paper lanterns.
Merchant ledgers
In the Meiji period we produced hantori-cho seal ledgers and daifuku-cho account books — essential tools for the merchants of the castle town.
Woodblock, rubber, zinc
Ledgers evolved into ruled sales and cash books. As the technique for printing those rules moved from woodblock to rubber and then zinc plates, we became a printing company.
Printing of every kind
We came to handle everything from business cards and postcards to large wrapping paper, along with apparel printing and UV printing on wood and metal.
And now, developing our own products
Using the skills built up through printing, we also put effort into products we plan ourselves. We develop original goods based on the akabeko and the okiagari-koboshi, and deliver them to roadside stations and souvenir shops across Fukushima. See our original goods
Timeline
From our founding in the early Meiji era to the present day, changing shape a little at a time.
Founded in Aizuwakamatsu, dealing in washi paper and painting and adding family crests to paper lanterns.
Began producing hantori-cho — ledgers stamped to record the handover of money and goods — and daifuku-cho, the account books kept by merchant houses.
As the technique for ruling lines in those ledgers moved from woodblock to rubber and then zinc plates, the business grew into printing.
Expanded into commercial printing generally: business cards, postcards, slips, envelopes, flyers and business forms.
Adapted to digitalisation, strengthening print artwork and design work, and widening into posters, stickers, signage and promotional items.
Opened Original Print Shop Sashimaya, moving into custom printing on T-shirts, apparel, bags, mugs and commemorative items in earnest.
Introduced DTF printers and other equipment, strengthening our capacity for small-run, full-colour apparel printing.
Began developing our own original products in earnest, based on motifs such as the akabeko and the okiagari-koboshi.
Drawing on our printing, design and finishing skills, we focus on planning, manufacturing, wholesaling and selling our own products, stocked mainly by roadside stations and souvenir shops across Fukushima.
Combining printing, product development, and web, digital and AI work to develop new products and services.
Talk to us about your printing
From a single box of business cards upward. We work through the details with you, by phone, LINE, or in person.