About

Connecting tradition and innovation.

Our legacy of craftsmanship began when our director's grandfather founded a woodworking business in Hanamaki many years ago. Back then, our merchandise ranged from wooden boxes to lacquerware, and from there expanded into commercial wooden tableware.

As times and lifestyles have changed, we have adapted the products we make while passing down the techniques and philosophy of working with wood.

During the second generation, we expanded our business beyond the manufacture of wooden products to include tableware, kitchen equipment, and supplies—all designed to support the restaurant industry.
In 2005, the company faced a major turning point. Nevertheless, driven by a desire to pass on the skills and experience handed down from my grandfather to my father to future generations, we established Kimizuka HRE Co., Ltd. in 2006.

Then, in 2026, we took a new step forward by ending our approximately 50-year run of manufacturing wooden tableware for a major hamburger-steak restaurant chain. While cherishing what we have cultivated thus far, we aim to go beyond just wooden products and create new value through our connections with people, technology, daily life, and the local community.

As times change, so do we.

However, our commitment to understanding people’s aspirations and delivering the very best remains unchanged.

Transforming our heritage into new value.

That is the future of Kimizuka HRE Co., Ltd.
We look forward to your continued support.

 

Our Team

  • Kentaro Kimiuzka

    Company President

    After gaining sales experience following my college graduation, I returned to the world of manufacturing, which I had been familiar with since childhood. What draws me in is the “thoughtfully designed functional beauty” of tools and machinery, and the beautiful products created by making full use of them. The work of carving wood and applying finishes demands extreme concentration—it allows for not even a moment’s lapse in focus. For me, this time is like a form of spiritual practice—a joyful experience that connects to the state of “becoming nothing” I learned through Aikido. Each product is a “once-in-a-lifetime encounter*,” and I am deeply committed to sharing the joy of craftsmanship with our customers and continuing to create products that will remain close to the hearts of their users for years to come.　

    Favorite Product: Wooden tray for the Apple Watch charger Favorite Favorite Food: Homemade Margherita pizza (made from scratch and baked in a wood-fired oven) and “Hittsumi”—the taste of my hometown is the best. Both are sources of energy for me and my family. I’m also a fan of brisket and tacos.
    Hobbies: Traveling. Experiencing different places and cultures is a valuable time that inspires my product designs and ideas.
    Favorite scent: The smell of wood being smoke-dried in the workshop. It’s the scent that helps me focus the most, as I feel the process of natural materials being transformed into products.

    *Ichigo Ichie. (Note from the editor: This Japanese idiom is worth looking into.)

    Contact Kentaro 

  • Yumiko Kimizuka

    Member of the Board of Directors

    I’m in charge of general manufacturing and accounting. I was born and raised in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, and spent four years in Osaka while attending university. After graduating, I returned to Hanamaki and have lived here ever since. If I hadn’t met my husband, I probably wouldn’t have become so deeply immersed in the world of manufacturing. I’m grateful every day for the encounters that connect me to so many people, experiences, and things!! My family often tells me I look scary because my face seems angry, so in public, I always try to keep a smile on my face—but not one that’s too broad! I might be a bit too laid-back, but I consider myself a calm person. I’m currently studying English because I want to be able to enjoy conversing in English. I look forward to working with you.

    Favorite dishes: One-plate meals.
    Favorite foods: Crumble, pineapple, salt-boiled peanuts, sushi, cheese, curry, and more—including gumbo. Anything I’ve tried that was recommended to me has turned out to be delicious, and I’ve come to love it all!
    Things I enjoy: Visiting art museums, watching movies, and reading magazines to imagine what I want to create—and then bringing those ideas to life!
    Favorite scent: The smell of food being cooked outdoors around dinnertime.

    Contact Yumiko 

  • Shaleah Poster

    Design / Translation / Creative Direction

    I majored in film and minored in Japanese at the University of North Texas, but since I worked as a graphic artist and sign painter in Texas for nearly 10 years afterward, so I forgot a lot of Japanese by the time I moved to Japan. (lol)

    I moved from Texas to Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, in April 2019. When it comes to motorcycles, I’m a Honda fan, but I really like my current Kawasaki Estrella, too! My dog is Tomo-kun. Tomo-kun lives in Texas, so I miss him every day. My current cat is Nikki. She’s a bit of a crazy cat. I don’t have any lizards, but I love them.

    Favorite product: Eco Plates!
    Favorite foods: Grilled salmon, avocado, mango, berries, nuts, dark chocolate, Spanish cheese, Texas BBQ, street tacos, sashimi (is that too many?)
    Hobbies: Motorcycles, camping, hiking, crafting, matcha, drawing, home renovations
    Favorite scents: Freshly cut wood, Horikawa’s sandalwood incense, leather

    Contact Shaleah (English or Japanese) 
Contact our team