Our Journey
“In 1959, our founder, Yukichi Kishimoto, made the decision to strike out on his own. At 30 years old, he embarked on this journey filled with hope and determination.
His sole focus was to transform the finest wood available each day into the best possible products, bringing joy to his customers. His entire life was dedicated to wood.
‘There is no such thing as good or bad wood in this world. The same goes for people.’
These were the words Yukichi often spoke.
Growing for a Hundred Years
To nurture a 100-year forest
—there lies determination, philosophy, culture, and a long passage of time.
Used for a Hundred Years
A grandmother’s furniture is passed down to the mother and then to the grandchild.
That is what it means to use something for a hundred years. Is that just a dream? We firmly believe it is possible.
My Journey with Hyakunen Mokuzai
At 23, I went to train at the lumber market in Fukuoka.
That’s where I first encountered Hyakunen Mokuzai—century-old wood.
Even with my lack of knowledge at the time, I could immediately sense,
“This is something special.”
Its presence was undeniable, standing apart even in a sea of thousands of bundled logs.
I was captivated by its distinct character, unlike anything I had ever seen before.
A senior colleague told me, “Wood becomes something entirely different after a hundred years.”
That day, I made a promise to myself: “One day,
I will become a lumber dealer who handles Hyakunen Mokuzai.”
But the world moved in a different direction.
The demand for century-old wood faded.
As the years passed, I found myself recalling that promise—”One day,
I will handle Hyakunen Mokuzai.”
That thought grew within me, little by little, until it became something I could no longer ignore.
It was no longer just a dream—it had become something I had to bring to life.
