Hitachi Suzuki

Sawahata Seisakusho is an aluminum alloy casting factory that started in 1973 from a small melting furnace set up in the corner of a warehouse. Since founding, the company has integrally handled everything from aluminum and copper alloy casting to machining — accumulating techniques and trust in the industrial parts field. Under the corporate philosophy of "always working sincerely on craftsmanship, striving for technical improvement through creativity and ingenuity, and contributing to the development of people and society," the company works on quality improvement.

Within the company, there are OBs recognized as "Contemporary Master Craftsman" — awarded to outstanding technicians — and casting masters who have received the "Excellence in Skill Award" — passing on long-cultivated casting techniques to the next generation. On this foundation, the project that started from the thought "we want to create new products leveraging our techniques" led to the birth of Hitachi Suzuki.

Hitachi Suzuki has the concept of expressing Ibaraki's nature and climate in vessel design. Starting with the "Nami" series imaging the rich sea and waves, designers and artisans repeated prototyping many times — developing vessels with attention to details like feel, form, and mouthfeel. The brand aims to balance the expressions unique to sand casting with daily-use functionality.

Since the brand site's opening, through the online shop, various events, "IBARAKI craft" at department stores, and metropolitan antenna shops, Hitachi Suzuki has gradually spread nationwide. Through vessels containing the master's craft and creative ingenuity, the goal of Hitachi Suzuki is to transform the user's daily life and moments of relaxation into richer time.

A tinware brand born from the casting factory "Sawahata Seisakusho"

Hitachi Suzuki is a tinware brand launched by Sawahata Seisakusho — which started as an aluminum alloy casting factory — leveraging its in-house casting techniques. Integrated production from sand mold making to pouring to polishing at the Tokai Village factory. Against the background of techniques cultivated in industrial casting and high skill held by casting masters awarded "Contemporary Master Craftsman" and Excellence in Skill — the brand creates highly accurate pieces.

Unique expressions born from 99.9% pure tin and sand casting

Hitachi Suzuki pieces are made from 99.9% pure tin using sand casting. Molten tin is poured into sand molds raised from wooden patterns — and after cooling, each is removed from the mold and finished one by one. Fine bumps and sand-grain patterns unique to sand casting appear on the surface — with no two pieces having the same expression. The calm matte-grey texture deepens in character the more it's used.

The "Nami" series with Ibaraki's sea and waves as motif

Hitachi Suzuki's main series "Nami" is a line designed with the concept of Ibaraki's sea and waves. With modern octagonal-form tumblers and impressive wave-shaped tokkuri and ochoko sets, the overall narrowing, compact size, and fine surface bumps balance ease of holding and slip resistance.

Tableware balancing functional beauty and usability

Tin is less prone to rust and discoloration compared to other metals, and has long been used as tableware. With high thermal conductivity, if you chill the cup in the refrigerator before use, drinks tend to stay cold without needing ice. Hitachi Suzuki tumblers and guinomi are proposed as vessels that make beer, sake, shochu, iced coffee, and various other drinks taste better.

Active from daily use to gifts and commemorative items

Beyond the online shop, Hitachi Suzuki is also developed at department stores, prefectural product shops, and the antenna shop "IBARAKI sense." Adopted as a commemorative gift for ministers at the G7 Ibaraki-Mito Meeting, it draws attention as a craft representing the prefecture. A brand chosen for home sake ware and tumblers, anniversary gifts, and hometown tax (furusato nozei) return gifts.