Morodomi Furniture is the collective name for furniture made in Morodomi, Saga City, and it developed thanks to its location facing the furniture-producing city of Okawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, across the Chikugo River. Morodomi had long been home to woodworking centered on sashimono joinery, but when the former Japan National Railways Saga Line opened in 1935, exchange with Okawa's 400-year-old furniture-producing area became active, bringing new woodworking techniques to Morodomi. Ties deepened further when the Morodomi and Okawa bridges were built over the Chikugo River in 1955, and when the bridges were opened toll-free in 1966, furniture manufacturers from Okawa moved in at an accelerated pace, and the area grew into one of Kyushu's leading furniture-producing regions. In 1980, the annual shipment value of furniture exceeded 10 billion yen, making it Kyushu's second-largest furniture-producing area. It handles a wide range of items, from traditional Japanese furniture such as paulownia chests and low tables to modern chairs and sofas, and in 2022 'Morodomi Kagu' was registered as a regional collective trademark. As a furniture-producing area combining high woodworking skill with strong design, it is now also focusing on exports overseas.
Origin
Morodomi is located near the mouth of the Chikugo River, and in addition to serving as a collection point for timber floated down from upstream, it had long been home to woodworking centered on sashimono joinery. Across the river, Okawa City in Fukuoka Prefecture boasts a 400-year history as a furniture-producing area, and when the former Japan National Railways Saga Line opened in 1935, exchange with Okawa became active, and furniture-making techniques began to spread to Morodomi in earnest.
History
When the Morodomi and Okawa bridges were built over the Chikugo River in 1955 and opened toll-free in 1966, furniture manufacturers from Okawa City moved in at an accelerated pace. This growth made Morodomi Kyushu's second-largest furniture-producing area after Okawa City, and by 1980 the annual shipment value of furniture had exceeded 10 billion yen. In 2022, 'Morodomi Kagu' was registered under the Japan Patent Office's regional collective trademark system, and under the banner 'From Morodomi to the World,' the area is actively pursuing exports overseas.
Features
The distinguishing feature of Morodomi Furniture is its solid craftsmanship, backed by traditional woodworking techniques such as sashimono joinery, combined with a high level of design suited to modern living. Its strength lies in handling a wide range of products, from traditional Japanese furniture such as paulownia chests and low tables to modern items like chairs and sofas that make the most of wood's texture and character. Many workshops carry out integrated in-house production combining artisans' handwork with manufacturing equipment, and their furniture making is valued for balancing quality with functionality.
Materials Used
| Main Production Areas |
|
|---|
Artisans & Workshops
平田椅子製作所
Founded in 1963 as a chair manufacturer, it relocated from Okawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, to Morodomi in 1994. It pursues solid quality through integrated production at its own factory, along with designs attuned to family life.
Official site →How to Buy
- 諸富家具振興協同組合
- The cooperative's official website introduces member workshops and offers an online tour through the 'Morodomi Kagu Virtual Showroom,' and products can also be purchased at individual workshops and local furniture shops.Where to buy →PR