An Enjoyable Mealtime Experience Through Quality Tableware

Takagi specializes in unique tableware and packaging. Can you tell us some of the technical challenges you come across when trying to create a trade like this?

We have a special technology called TEIICHI Printing, which in English is called fixed position printing. The print is contained on a roll where heat is used to adhere the pattern to the plate. Since the position is so difficult to get right, I don’t think this technology is available overseas. In terms of the technical challenges, I am not sure myself, but if you talk to our technical staff, they will say that there are a lot. Each case contains about 800-900 units, and we ship out about 10,000 cases every day.

In a post-COVID world, lifestyle products have evolved once again to reflect shifting consumer priorities. In a world of SDGs, there is a greater demand for packaging goods driven by companies like Uber and Grab. The disposable paper market is expected to grow from 2024 to 2029 by over USD 484 million. Companies like Takagi are key to this with their reusable packaging. How are you responding to these trends?

Demand for food delivered by companies like Uber and Grab has been decreasing in Japanese market recently, and that is because the cost for consumers has spiraled to become quite expensive. As for reusable packaging, we serve high quality reusable packaging at a low price to the domestic market, and have done so ever since we started our business 51 years ago. Customer’s demands for reusable container for delivery meals like Uber and Grabs or Dine-in to reduce the wash of dishes will be increase more.

How are companies like yours driving the need from food companies to improve shelf lives and reduce waste?

There is also great demand for frozen bento and chilled bento in Japan, shown in convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery delivery services. The invention of high performance microwave has also contributed to developing the food culture.  To meet this trend, we make wide varieties of freezable and microwavable for long minutes disposable food packaging, something that is applicable to overseas markets.

We have been making washable tableware for a long time now, with all of our competitors having already purchased it. This means that we are the only ones left. While there are some minor companies, most major competitors have already left the market.  

For 11 consecutive years, we’ve seen Japanese food-related exports increase. If we look at up to 2023, they reached JPY 1.45 trillion. Central to this success are Japanese restaurants, tripling over the past decade. How do you account for this substantial rise in Japanese food exports? Why is now the time for washoku to shine internationally?

Our disposable packaging is sold in Singapore, Hong-Kong in restaurants or supermarkets as well as parts of the US. Many Japanese, Chinese and Korean owned washoku restaurants use them for to go, supermarket and delivery applications.

Looking at a company like Toyota as an example, it is an iconic company known for its reliability. I think similarly, once Japanese food is experienced, I think everyone will love it because of the delicate tastes and interesting variety. I’m very proud of Japanese food as a Japanese person. Additionally, I think Japanese people work very hard and, therefore, have dedicated time and energy to improving Japanese cuisine for hundreds of years.

Considering all of the countries your company could expand to, which have you earmarked as possessing the most potential for the future growth of your company?

We would welcome any country that would like to use our containers, but we already have some presence in Asia, Korea, China, Singapore, and even the US, Hawaii, and France. To drive increasing demands and be close to customers, we’ve designated many sales agent overseas. Also we’re expanding to recruit more sales agents.

What strategy would you take to expand in those international locations?

Some of our distributors are working in Singapore, Hong-Kong, and US, so I am open to more collaborations in that area. For the past 9 years, we have showcased our products at a Chinese online exhibition, Alibaba.Com for 24/7 distribution.

Japan is in the midst of a population crisis. By 2040, the country will face an 11 million worker deficit, and by 2050, the population is expected to collapse under 100 million, presenting both a diminished domestic market and an inability to access labor. We’ve seen companies attempt to utilize different strategies to address these issues. How is your company reacting to the population crisis?

Despite the population decrease, we are seeing an increase in demand for products, particularly those related to bento boxes sold in educational establishments as well as those delivered to homes in the evenings. Middle schools in Japan have now begun serving lunch to children rather than requiring them to bring lunch from home, creating opportunities. There is also great demand for frozen bento space, something that is applicable to overseas markets. To meet increasing customer’s demands, there’re many young staff from Asia who are learning valuable and high-level skills here in Japan, therefore contributing to economic growth.

A key pillar of your business is sustainability. You’ve demonstrated your commitment to sustainability through your SDGs as well as your innovative practices. How do your products ensure a balance between affordability, convenience, and environmental responsibility?

In Japan case, most of used plastics are burned. The increased performance of burners actually reduces dioxins and makes good fuel. Even if you separate plastics from burnable materials, they crash and mix together to burn again, so it doesn’t really make sense. From a global understanding, however, the declining use of plastic is important for the future, so we are trying to follow suit.

Can you tell us about some of your products, such as your Stone Sheet and your Ajiro Curry Special? From our understanding, we believe these products utilize your research in biomass materials like sugarcane and starch. Can you tell us more about your work in these areas?

The Stone Sheet utilizes a patented technique that is only available to our company,

3 years ago, we developed this new materials for disposable packaging. It will cut more than 50% of plastic use. This year, a giant convenience store chain has started using this Stone Sheet. There’re huge amounts of limestone resources domestically and mined from mountains. They‘re natural resources and from the ancient sea

Stone Sheet

Your company is partnering with big licenses such as Kumamon, Snoopy, and Dragonball. How are you able to cater your products to meet the demands for high quality from some of your clients?

Our business in this regard has been operating for over 50 years now, and we visited 5,000 companies who are providing lunch to students. We have very close relationships since we’ve built those relationships up over the past half-decade. We even go to the weddings of some of our partners. Our company is also in possession of ISO-1400 certification, which came about when a partner in Yokohama required their supplier to have this ISO certification. In this manner, we have grown because we have spent many years obtaining this certification.

In recent years, we have seen a spike in demand for evening delivery bento meals conducted by the CO-OP, which is known for one of Japanese largest supermarket and grocery delivery customers’ co-operative, which presents great opportunities for us. All in all, we have a lot of customers that use our containers. Honestly, we don’t receive any complaints, and customers are always complimentary of Takagi.

Licensed Products in Collaboration with Sanrio

Nude Seafood

Are there any exhibitions or international events that you will be attending in the coming year?

Regarding overseas exhibitions, there are yearly exhibitions that we attend every year. In 2025, from April 15^th to 17^th, we will attend FABEX at Tokyo Big Site. We’re scheduled to exhibit many places in 2026, although there are now more exhibitions on our schedule for 2025 right now.

From our research, we saw that Takagi Industrial also plays an advisor role to many of your clients. We found that particularly compelling since you offer expert guidance beyond just selling to clients, helping them enhance their appeal and deliver impactful customer experiences. Can you run us through how this process plays out? 

We have a lot of sales connections, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and all sales information collected by our salespeople is shared. From that information, we will share useful bits of information with the customers. For example, a bento box company was still using telephone and fax for orders, but we helped them develop an app and convert it to a cashless shop. I remember sharing this information with another customer, and they were amazed. In 2024, we also held lecture sessions in November, and I had to make a presentation in front of a customer, which made me a little nervous. This presentation was on the topic of human resource cultivation.   

How would you define your company in one sentence?

We provide products that are one and only. There may be similar products globally, but our products stand out as unique. To sum up the strengths of Takagi, I would first say the employees, followed by our relationships with clients and the challenges we take on.

Imagine that we come back in 2030 and have this interview all over again. What goals or dreams do you hope to achieve by the time we come back for that new interview?

Honestly, nobody can accurately predict the future and just thinking about situations like the ones in conflicted areas, shows how unpredictable the world really is. It is good to have hope, however, so we hope to keep our employees happy and continue to contribute to society.

For more information, please visit their website at: https://www.mc-takagi.co.jp/