Skip to content
Evolving from Exterior to Interior
Aichi-Chubu
Recommended ranking
Area
Hometown of Ceramics
Widely known as the “hometown of ceramics,” the city of Takahama in Aichi Prefecture boasts numerous scenic spots, parks, and cultural museums, showcasing traditional and modern ceramic art.
Home to historical and scenic walking areas such as Ningyo Koji, Onimichi, and Takabire Park featuring a Giant Dragon made of tiles, Takahama offers a great insight into the local customs and beliefs.
Located in the west area of Takahama city are Salon Akagama and Japan’s only kawara (roof tiles) museum, the Takahama City Land of Pottery Roof Tile Museum, exhibiting Japanese, Korean, and Chinese roof tiles. Pottery classes are also offered for a unique experience.
Collaborating with the popular manga and anime series, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” local roof tile craftsmen have created plates featuring characters like Tanjiro Kamado, combining the old with the new.
History
One of the Three Major Tile Manufacturers in the Sanshu Region
At the beginning of its founding in September 1963 in Takahama City, Aichi Prefecture, Shinto Akagawara Co. Ltd. specialized in “akagawara,” red roof tiles.
In January of 1995, the company name was changed to Shinto Co., Ltd., producing not only red roof tiles but also commonly used tiles of all shapes including Japanese-style roof tiles, Western-style roof tiles, and flat roof tiles.
Recognized as one of the three major tile manufacturers in the Sanshu region, the highly-skilled craftsmen of Shinto Co., Ltd. use Mikawa clay collected in the Mikawa area to create roof tiles of the finest quality.
Constantly taking on new challenges to meet the needs of the times, the company is currently focusing on the development of the latest technologies such as environmental tiles and solar power generation systems with integrated roof tiles.
Characteristic
Out with the Old, In with the New
Onigawara, a demon-faced tile installed at the edge of the ridge of Japanese-style buildings, is different from ordinary kawara as it is used to ward off evil spirits, protecting the family living there, as well as created for decorative purposes.
In recent years, the opportunities to display onigawara on roofs have decreased due to the diversification of housing styles, posing concerns about the continuation of the onigawara culture.
In an attempt to protect Japanese housing culture and tradition from the steady decrease of houses with onigawara tiles on their roofs, Shinto Co., Ltd. is producing "Onigawara Iemori," an indoor onigawara as an interior decoration with hopes of playing a new role as a "guardian deity" in all living spaces.
With the ever-changing definition of modernity, oni-shi masters of the craft have designed the onigawara iemori to match the style of houses no matter how much change the future holds.
For Customers
Protect and Be Protected
Shinto Co., Ltd. is constantly thinking of ways to preserve tradition through innovation to go with the times.
In this day and age, as we spend more time indoors, it is a perfect opportunity to place the onigawara iemori to guard your living spaces. Protecting tradition while being protected in return, we hope that you and your loved ones will feel secure with the onigawara iemori.
