Sharing the Warmth of Iron to the World: Kuniko Oikawa at TEDxTohoku 2013

(English follows Japanese)
及川久仁子 及源鋳造株式会社（OIGEN） 5代目社長

岩手県奥州市出身。江戸時代の末期である嘉永5年、ペリー来航の頃に創業した鉄器の製造メーカー「及源鋳造株式会社（OIGEN）」の5代目社長。独自のマーケティングによる商品開発と丁寧なモノづくりを心掛け、生活の中で五感に響く商品を提供したいと日々研究を重ねている。数々の受賞の他、伝統産業の中では珍しく、塗装なしで錆びにくい上等鍋が特許を取得している。
伝統産業である南部鉄器は、奥州藤原氏が近江の国から今の岩手県奥州市に鋳物師を呼び寄せ、鋳物業を根付かせたのが始まりと言われている。

・グッドデザイン賞認定
・全国中小企業見本市において内閣総理大臣賞受賞
・経済産業省　元気なモノづくり中小企業300社認定
・経済産業省　第2回モノづくり日本大賞　東北経済産業局長賞
・（社）発明協会主催東北地方発明表彰　中小企業長官奨励賞・実施功績賞など、受賞歴多数。


Kuniko Oikawa
5th CEO of OIGEN Foundry Co., Ltd.

From Oshu city, Iwate prefecture.
Kuniko Oikawa is the fifth president of OIGEN, a traditional ironware production company that was established in 1852, around the time when Perry came to Japan in the Edo period. Based on her original marketing of product development and careful manufacturing, Mrs. Oikawa pursues her daily research to provide products that gratify the five senses in our daily lives. Aside numerous awards, OIGEN possesses a manufacturing patent for its iron cast products with a natural "anti rusting" coat, which is rare among the traditional industries.

It is said that the Nanbu Tekki, a traditional cast iron, originated when the lord of the Oshu Fujiwara clan ordered a caster to come from the land of Ohmi to the current Oshu city in Iwate. This is said to have founded the casting industry in the area.

OIGEN has received many awards, including:

・Winner of the 2007 Good Design Award.
・Winner of the Prime Minister Award at the National Federation of Small Business Associations exhibition.
・Chosen for the 2007 Vigorous Manufacturing of 300 Small and Medium Enterprises by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
・Winner of the Chief of Bureau Award and the 2007 Manufacturing Japan Award, by the Tohoku Economic Industrial Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
・Received Local Commendation for Invention in Tohoku by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation


In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)