Just a 10-minute drive from the bustling Ueno Station, close to HOTEL RESOL UENO, you'll arrive in Asakusabashi, a town lined with craft shops, a place where art and the nostalgic atmosphere of old Tokyo intersect.

Asakusabashi, with its history as a wholesale district dating back to the Edo period, is a town of handcrafts and manufacturing with an unpretentious downtown atmosphere. Under the elevated tracks of the station, you'll find shops selling handmade parts and leather goods, as well as cafes converted from old houses, creating a mix of old and new.

Located in a corner of that area is "NISHIGUCHI KUTSUSHITA STORE TOKYO." This factory store is run by Knit-Win Co., Ltd. (formerly Nishiguchi Socks), a sock manufacturer founded in 1950. It offers original socks as well as miscellaneous goods from artisans whose passion the company president resonates with.

The history of "Nishiguchi Socks"

"Nishiguchi Socks" was founded around the time when post-war Japan was trying to move forward again.

In 1950, the first generation owner, Katsuji Nishiguchi, started a wholesale business in Nara Prefecture, a major sock-producing region, and later began manufacturing socks himself.

After that, they developed supporters and hot spring tabi socks, which were rare at the time. It is said that the father and son worked together to get the company on track, with the son, Katsuhiro Nishiguchi, taking the products his father had developed out on sales calls.

"Nishiguchi Socks" was passed down from the founder to his son, Katsuhiro, and the company was renamed "Knit-Win Co., Ltd." Currently, the third generation, Isato Nishiguchi, is at the helm, and the company continues to move forward, re-examining its mission and role in line with changing times.

My father's words changed the path I chose to take.

"I've always felt that I had to support the employees who have been working for me since I was little," says Nishiguchi. He hadn't decided from the beginning that he would take over the company, but he says he had that vague idea during his high school years.

At university, with two options in mind—either taking over the family business or working for another company—Nishiguchi chose to major in business administration, hoping it would be useful for both. After graduation, she joined a major manufacturer. While enjoying fulfilling days, Nishiguchi gradually began to feel a slight frustration at not being able to work at her own pace.

A single comment from my father, the second-generation owner, – "If you're going to come back, now's the time" – prompted me to re-evaluate the future of the people and company I needed to protect, as well as my own future, and ultimately led me to decide to take over the company.

Exploring the possibilities of socks

When Nishiguchi first took over the business, he was exploring the possibilities of socks, but as he continued his daily manufacturing, he gradually came to think, "I want to change the mood of the day starting from the feet when wearing socks, and improve the daily lives of our customers."

In today's world of abundant goods, socks are no longer simply something to "wear," but something that is expected to offer added value beyond that. In the midst of this, Mr. Nishiguchi pursued the question of "what we want to deliver," and as a result, he came up with the company's purpose: "Changing a day with socks, changing value with socks."

"It's fun and interesting to be able to learn about the creator's thoughts and worldview, including the materials they use, the design, and the manufacturing process. I think the appeal of a physical store is that it can convey that," says Nishiguchi.

Currently, we have three stores in Nara, Osaka, and Tokyo, and we place great importance on allowing customers to actually pick up and examine our socks. Tokyo, in particular, has a large population, making it a region where we have many opportunities to convey the value of our products.

They chose Asakusabashi because, despite being in the heart of the city, they felt it was a relaxed and laid-back place, and the warmth of handcrafted work in the neighborhood naturally resonated with their own approach to craftsmanship.

The essence of manufacturing is what holds value.

What NISHIGUCHI KUTSUSHITA values most is continuing to create high-quality products and pursuing essential values that will not fade even as times change. To achieve this, they deliberately refrain from releasing new products every year or limited-edition items, and instead continue to produce only "classic socks."

Nishiguchi says that by constantly confronting the ever-changing market and needs, and by repeatedly experimenting with each aspect of the sock-making process, such as the selection of threads and fabrics and sewing techniques, a unique depth and charm that cannot be expressed in numbers or words is created, and that "becomes the depth of the product."

"I don't want to create something that's just 'good enough' based on past experience." These words reveal a commitment to uncompromising craftsmanship.

Touch it with your hands and feel the emotions.

The store features socks and underwear from three original brands, each with a different concept: "NISHIGUCHI KUTSUSHITA," which focuses on "thinking of the wearer"; hakne, which aims to "encounter something precious"; and memeri, which is "gentle on me." Each item is a special piece imbued with the thoughts and feelings of its creator.

"Each of our store staff has their own preferences; some only wear socks from one brand, while others wear a variety of socks. I like them all, so it's fun for me to choose which ones to wear every day (laughs)."

Knit-Win Co., Ltd.'s socks are not just everyday necessities or consumables. In an ever-changing market, we pursue the essence of things and offer the value of a "worldview" born from heartfelt craftsmanship.

"Socks can change your day, socks can change your values." Continuing to convey this unchanging quality is what gives us the power to deliver a richer everyday life, starting from your feet.

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NISHIGUCHI KUTSUSHITA STORE TOKYO
電話：070-1732-5090
住所：東京都台東区浅草橋3丁目2-10 トムワンビル1F
アクセス：都営浅草線浅草橋駅A３出口より徒歩4分
HP：https://store.knitwin.com/
　 ：https://11-11.jp/shop/  
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/nishiguchikutsushita/ 
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