Tagawa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
A century-old Japanese manufacturer of traditional and innovative shikkui (lime plaster) and natural building materials based in Tagawa, Fukuoka.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Tagawa Sangyo Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of shikkui (lime plaster) and related natural building materials, headquartered in Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The company traces its origins to 1924 (Taisho 13), when founder Shichiro Yukihira established Yukihira Chemical Industry in Yagueda, Tagawa City, beginning with light calcium carbonate production. In 1946 (Showa 21) the business was reorganized and incorporated as Tagawa Sangyo Co., Ltd. Over the following decades it expanded from calcium carbonate into animal feed and food-grade calcium, then into ready-mixed plaster, becoming a pioneer of Japan's first ready-mixed shikkui, 'Shirokabe,' in 1964. The company's core business is its shikkui division, which covers plastering materials, non-fired shikkui ceramics, shikkui paints, and responsible execution of plastering work. It also operates research and development, cultural property restoration and conservation (with over 200 adoption records), direct-to-consumer DIY products such as the 100% natural 'nuri2' plaster, and overseas technical support, including a Ukraine reconstruction project. Its product range includes shikkui, soil and diatomaceous earth finishes, tataki (earth floor), substrate adjustment materials and auxiliary materials, Limix non-fired shikkui ceramics, and gravel and stone. Tagawa Sangyo emphasizes the use of locally sourced high-purity limestone from the nearby Seki-no-yama quarry, which it calcines in-house. This local resource base underpins both its traditional plaster products and its newer material innovations. The company has received numerous awards, including the Good Design Award and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's 'Vibrant Monozukuri SME 300' and 'Habataku SME 300' selections. In 2024 (Reiwa 6) it celebrated its 100th anniversary, and Shimon Yukihira became the fourth president. The company remains privately held and continues to operate from its Fukuoka base, serving architects, craftsmen, and cultural restoration projects across Japan and abroad.
History
Tagawa Sangyo Co., Ltd. was founded in 1924 (Taisho 13) when Shichiro Yukihira established Yukihira Chemical Industry in Yagueda, Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, starting a light calcium carbonate business. In 1946 (Showa 21), the company was reorganized and incorporated as Tagawa Sangyo Co., Ltd. In 1954 (Showa 29), it began research and development of calcium carbonate for livestock feed. In 1956 (Showa 31), it obtained manufacturing approval for food-grade calcium 'Kenkaru' and livestock feed calcium 'Karuso,' and established Mineral Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. as a manufacturing and sales company for these products. In 1960 (Showa 35), the company began research and development of ready-mixed shikkui. In 1961 (Showa 36), it started manufacturing and selling patented AS Plaster and began manufacturing waterproof cement. In 1964 (Showa 39), it developed and began manufacturing and selling 'Shirokabe,' Japan's first ready-mixed shikkui. In 1974 (Showa 49), it celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 1975 (Showa 50), it introduced a large plant for mass production of Shirokabe and expanded the Shirokabe series to nine products. In 1986 (Showa 61), it independently developed 'long-aged lime cream' and began manufacturing and selling 'Kodai Shikkui' (ancient plaster), a ready-mixed shikkui using this cream as a raw material. In 1994 (Heisei 6), it began research and development of shikkui boards. In 1995 (Heisei 7), it began manufacturing and selling colored shikkui 'Otsu' and 'Doki.' In 1996 (Heisei 8), it began research and development of shikkui tiles. In 2003 (Heisei 15), it began manufacturing and selling 'Limix,' a non-fired shikkui ceramic. In 2016 (Heisei 28), it began manufacturing and selling DIY shikkui 'NURI2.' In 2017 (Heisei 29), it began selling 'Kaibai Shikkui' (shell lime plaster), developed for cultural properties, as a series including auxiliary materials for cultural properties. In 2019 (Heisei 31), it began manufacturing and selling 'MILIME,' a shikkui for painting application. In 2024 (Reiwa 6), it celebrated its 100th anniversary, and Shimon Yukihira became the fourth representative director and president. The company has received numerous awards. In 2003, Limix received the Good Design Award/SME Agency Director-General's Award and the Fukuoka Prefecture Industrial Design Award/Excellence Award. In 2004, Limix Plus received the Good Design Award/Ecological Design Award and the Fukuoka Prefecture Industrial Design Award/Excellence Award. In 2005, ecopo received the Fukuoka Industrial Design Award/Grand Prize. In 2007, it was selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as one of the '300 Vibrant Monozukuri SMEs.' Also in 2007, Limix received the 2nd Monozukuri Japan Award/Prime Minister's Award. In 2010, Lumie CUBE received the Active Design & Craft Award Contest/Semi-Grand Prize at the Tokyo International Gift Show. In 2016, DIY shikkui 'NURI2' received the Fukuoka Industrial Design Award. In 2023, Deodo Tile received the Fukuoka Design Award/Silver Prize. In 2026, it was selected by the SME Agency as one of the '300 Habataku SMEs' in the overseas expansion category.
- 2026
Selected by SME Agency as one of '300 Habataku SMEs' in overseas expansion category.
- 2024
Celebrates 100th anniversary; Shimon Yukihira becomes fourth representative director and president.
- 2023
Deodo Tile receives Fukuoka Design Award/Silver Prize.
- 2019
Begins manufacturing and selling 'MILIME,' a shikkui for painting application.
- 2017
Begins selling 'Kaibai Shikkui' (shell lime plaster) as a series including auxiliary materials for cultural properties.
- 2016
Begins manufacturing and selling DIY shikkui 'NURI2'; NURI2 receives Fukuoka Industrial Design Award.
- 2010
Lumie CUBE receives Active Design & Craft Award Contest/Semi-Grand Prize at Tokyo International Gift Show.
- 2007
Selected by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as one of '300 Vibrant Monozukuri SMEs'; Limix receives 2nd Monozukuri Japan Award/Prime Minister's Award.
- 2005
ecopo receives Fukuoka Industrial Design Award/Grand Prize.
- 2004
Limix Plus receives Good Design Award/Ecological Design Award and Fukuoka Prefecture Industrial Design Award/Excellence Award.
Products and positioning
A century-old, locally rooted Japanese shikkui manufacturer combining traditional craftsmanship with scientific innovation, serving cultural restoration, architecture, and sustainable building markets.
Shirokabe
Japan's first ready-mixed shikkui, developed in 1964.
Kodai Shikkui
Ready-mixed shikkui made from long-aged lime cream, launched in 1986.
Limix
Non-fired shikkui ceramic, launched in 2003; received Good Design Award and Monozukuri Japan Award.
NURI2
100% natural DIY shikkui, launched in 2016.
MILIME
Shikkui for painting application, launched in 2019.
Otsu
Colored shikkui, launched in 1995.
Doki
Colored shikkui, launched in 1995.
Kaibai Shikkui
Shell lime plaster developed for cultural properties, sold as a series from 2017.
Deodo Tile
Tile product that received Fukuoka Design Award Silver Prize in 2023.
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