Collection: Tsuboe

One stroke, one thought, one craft. Since the Meiji era, A craftsmanship like no other.

Founded in 1907 in Tsubame, Japan, Tsuboe has spent over 117 years perfecting the art of oroshigane (traditional Japanese graters). What began as a file-making business has evolved into a legacy of craftsmanship passed down through four generations.

Each grater reflects our pursuit of functional beauty—where thoughtful design meets expert technique. Honoring tradition while embracing innovation, Tsuboe continues to create tools that elevate everyday cooking with elegance and precision.

From Files to Functional Beauty

117 Years of Craftsmanship

It was in 1907(40th year of the Meiji era) that our business began as a file manufacturer amidst the rapid development of the metal smithing industry in Tsubame.
For four generations we have been honing our craft to produce the best files and graters.
In those 117 years, OROSHIGANE has always been pursued the goal of achieving functional beauty in the design of our craft.
It is our sincere wish to maintain this culture of developing excellent and beautiful products into the future.

Sharpening files by handcraft work

Pride for Honmetate

We practice Honmetate, which is the sharpening of blades one by one with a chisel. Through many trials, we managed to replicate the Honmetate techniques and accuracy through developing our original NC machine in cooperation with a machinery company.
Honmetate techniques, with sharp and complicated blade alignment play an important role to produce 「Tsuboe no Gokujo OROSHIGANE」.
Our best techniques for OROSHIGANE were born with these Honmetate techniques.

Spirit of the metal blade

Pursuing to produce the finest OROSHIGANE

We want to pursue the best sharpness and comfort of use with our grater. This spirit is also expressed in the design and branding of the grater itself.
The three brands of “Tsuboe no Gokujo OROSHIGANE”, “Tsuboe no SHIRO,” and “irogami” are the result of generations of craftsmanship in pursuit of functional beauty. The best cutting ability is not achieved in a day. It is no exaggeration to say that “Tsuboe’s top-quality grater is the crystallization of our sincere efforts in manufacturing.

Authentic techniques

A new brand with stories in the past

In order to continue our company for the next 100 or 200 years, we worked on branding for our original products.
The name 「Gokujou」 for 「Tsuboe no Gokujou OROSHIGANE」 reflects our confidence in our products with the history of OROSHIGANE and Honmetate techniques that we have devoted ourselves to. We hope this branding will showcase our strengths, so that we have enhanced branding in the design of packaging, sales and distribution.
The “Tsuboe no Gokujo OROSHIGANE,” the “Tsuboe no SHIRO,” have a focus on being graters that are more comfortable to use, while the colorful “irogami,” adds a touch of color to the graters. All these have their own role and story to be conveyed.

Sincere manufacturing

Work environment for output productivity and ideas

When it comes to producing a product, a well-designed work environment is required including carefulness and delicacy, and severe attention at final inspection.
For example, we introduce trolleys with caster wheels to reduce physical strain and waste of movement. By keeping the factory clean and tidy, we have improved the efficiency of our whole work.
A comfortable environment for everyone creates motivation and propagation of new ideas and is an important factor leading to brand establishment.

Crafted with care

Ethical manufacturing

In recent years, we have been focusing on manufacturing that considers the conservation of the environment and society. We redesigned the packaging in order to eliminate excess wrapping for all Tsuboe original brands.
Concerned with the potential waste created by gift wrapping, we started to provide a service where customers can purchase recyclable cloth bags at the official online shop during checkout.
Furthermore, we gradually renew packaging to eliminate plastics, and carry out manufacturing that is conscious of the earth, society, and people.

AWARDS

Feb., 2022「Tsuboe Gokujou OROSHIGANE -hako-」 was awarded the IDSAward at the 29th NIIGATA IDS Design Competition 2020

Oct., 2020「Tsuboe Gokujou OROSHIGANE -hako-」 was awarded the Best 100Good Design Award in 2020

Dec., 2020「irogami -piece of grater-」 was awarded the Good Design Award,Athenaeum Museum, Chicago

Feb., 2021「Honmetate technique(OROSHIGANE manufacturing)」 was awardedthe Central Niigata Meister.

March 2021「irogami -piece of grater-」 was awarded second Prize at the 29th NIIGATA IDS Design Competition 2021

March 2021「irogami -piece of grater」 was awarded second Prize at the 44th Japan Tsubame Industrial Design Competition 2021 (Director-General's Award of the Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

March 2021 Tsuboe Inc. received Tsubame Women Support Award.Sept., 2021「irogami -piece of grater」 was selected on the JIDA design museum selection volume 23.

Oct., 2021「Tsuboe Gokujou OROSHIGANE -kakuzara-」 and 「Tsuboe Gokujou ORISHIGANE -maruzara-」 were awarded the GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2021.

March 2022「Tsuboe Gokujou OROSHIGANE -kakuzara-」 and 「Tsuboe Gokujou ORISHIGANE -maruzara-」 were awarded the first prize at the Japan Tsubame Industrial Design competition.

July 2022「Tsuboe Gokujou OROSHIGANE -kakuzara-」 and 「Tsuboe Gokujou ORISHIGANE -maruzara-」 were awarded the gold prize at the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards.

July 2022「irogami -piece of grater」 was awarded the silver prize at the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards.

July 2022「Tsuboe Gokujou OROSHIGANE -hako-」 was awarded the bronze prize at the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards.

Sept., 2022「irogami -piece of grater」 was awarded the first prize at the 94th Tokyo International Gift Show Autumun.