[Part 1] More Companies Embrace OEM: Inside the Making of High-Impact Japanese Culture Craft × Animation Character Promo Goods | Ishikawa Paper Goods Newsletter — Japan’s No. 1 Mino-Washi Brand — 2025.08.01
2025.08.07
【Ishikawa Paper Goods – Company Overview】
Founded in 1902 (Meiji 35) in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture—home of world-renowned Mino Washi handmade paper—Ishikawa Paper Goods Co., Ltd. designs, develops, manufactures, and wholesales a wide range of Japanese traditional paper crafts, souvenirs, and lifestyle goods. Guided by the spirit of “Handwork by Paper Artisans,” we merge centuries-old craftsmanship with modern entertainment-driven design to create products that delight global buyers. We hold the No. 1 record worldwide for the number of certified Mino-Washi-brand items and supply wholesalers, importers, and retailers across Japan, North America, and Europe.
We offer OEM and private-label services for: hand-dyed Mino Washi, chiyogami, DIY craft kits, washi dolls, Zodiac New-Year ornaments, 12-animal figures, Hina dolls, Girl’s-Day sets, Boy’s-Day kabuto displays, Koinobori carp streamers, entranceway décor, seasonal items, Washi Korokoro keepsakes, chirimen-crepe dolls, papier-mâché hariko, kokeshi, inbound-tourism souvenirs, premium Japanese gifts, stationery (pochibukuro gift envelopes, noshi envelopes), bookmarks, memo pads, origami paper, diaries, pen cases, postcard boxes, goshuin books, wagasa paper umbrellas, sensu folding fans, uchiwa fans, fan sleeves, washi photo frames, business-card holders, card cases, washi accessories (earrings, brooches, hair ties), clip-style washi magnets, tenugui towels, Japanese-pattern towels, kaishi paper, oil-blotting paper, washi coasters, torn-paper collages, postcard hangers, tapestries, netsuke, toothpick cases, ear picks, Japanese folk toys, and many more. Every year we hand-craft over 1,200 unique washi products for wholesale export—ideal for buyers seeking authentic Japanese souvenirs, corporate gifts, and traditional craft imports.
Our custom hariko papier-mâché lineup includes anime, event, corporate, and regional mascots as well as shrine icons.
OEM Examples
【Anime Characters】
Chibi Maruko-chan, Snoopy, Monchhichi (Nihon Vogue Co., Sekiguchi Co.), Rurouni Kenshin,
Pochita (Chainsaw Man), Attack on Titan, Nyanko-sensei (Natsume’s Book of Friends), Astro Boy, Black Jack
【Regional / Corporate / Sports Mascots】
Kuidaore Taro, Tsubakuro (Tokyo Yakult Swallows), Chukyo-kun (Chukyo TV), Giffy (FC Gifu)
【Vehicle & Government / Museum Mascots】
Lunar Lander SLIM (JAXA), Type-3 Fighter Hien (Gifu-Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum), “Nagara” Sightseeing Train (Nagaragawa Railway), Gifu Bus
【Historical Samurai Figures】
Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Akechi Mitsuhide, Lady Kicho (Nohime), Ishida Mitsunari, Otani Yoshitsugu, Kuroda Nagamasa, Fukushima Masanori, Shimazu Yoshihiro, Kobayakawa Hideaki, Ushiwakamaru (Minamoto no Yoshitsune)
【Animal Mascots】
Dormouse, Jersey Cow, Wolf
We wholesale to tourism-souvenir outlets, lifestyle-goods retailers, department-store buyers, e-commerce shops, mail-order houses, doll and pottery specialists, lacquerware dealers, stationery and bookstore chains, kimono merchants, tea and confectionery producers, specialty-paper stores, shrine & temple shops, florists, event planners, paper museums, general museum stores, global export wholesalers, advertising agencies, promotional-goods vendors, commemorative-gift suppliers, craft and hobby stores, and dedicated washi retailers. Our factory supplies OEM/private-label products to manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers worldwide.
Key search terms for buyers: washi souvenirs for tourists, premium washi gifts, Japanese cultural gifts wholesale, traditional crafts for export, inbound washi accessories, Japanese gift sets, Mino Washi wholesale, authentic Japanese souvenirs popular overseas
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“Share the Rich Spirit of Japan” – Packed with News!
■ Ishikawa Paper Goods Official Website ⇒ http://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/
(Visit our TOP page for the latest updates.)
■ [Special Offer] Blog introducing purchase bonuses for our new products ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1377.html
■ [With Images!] Check out our newsletter with photos!
Newsletter blog post ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/index__23.html
[Updated every Monday!!!]
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The scorching wind feels like we’re being steamed like chicken!
My dog is still obsessed with his new toy.
Now for some upbeat news that beats the summer slump ^^
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★★★ Latest Blog Updates ★★★
■ No. 1: [Deadline Approaching] Si-ing Zodiac items
• Final notice for free shipping in July
• End-of-stock alert (Zodiac items)
■ No. 2: New products coming soon!
• Creating a new “Postcard Hanger” series
■ No. 3: Started creating Hina & Boy’s Day product profiles
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★★★ Latest Blog Sneak Peek ★★★
“Coming Soon! Popular torn-paper art–matching Shikishi Paper Hangers (standard & mini) and Postcard Hangers will appear in our September issue—with special perks!”
Our flower-and-tea-loving manager Minowa is developing the perfect “Shikishi Paper Hanger” and “Mini Shikishi Hanger” to showcase our best-selling torn-paper artwork. Because the hand-made washi postcard hanger is selling out, a new “Postcard Hanger” is also on the way.
Look for these items—complete with bonuses—in the September edition of our Suisui News! Photos are ready, and launch is just around the corner—stay tuned!
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★★★ 2026 Year-of-the-Horse New-Year Decorations ★★★
• Bestseller Alert: Zodiac kaishi paper—order early for good luck!
Some items are limited to this year only, so please place additional orders soon.
• End-of-stock notice for limited items.
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● 2026 Year-of-the-Horse New-Year Decorations Blog Summary ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/eto.html
■ 2026 Horse-Year Catalog ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/03/36/336_1_file.pdf
*Orders accepted from a single unit.*
For orders below the lot quantity, shipment will be after completion. Items without stock may be canceled if you specify a fixed shipping date.
Lot-quantity orders are not subject to the above. If any items remain on back-order, we will notify you of the lead-time.
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Horse Zodiac Product Profile 1 ↓↓
Contents: Kagami-mochi rice-cake set, Mino-Washi-covered ceramic figurines, pure Mino-Washi dolls, chirimen-crepe dolls, bean-bag toys,
netsuke charms, fortune omikuji, tenugui towels, kaishi paper, and more.
www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/03/32/332_1_file.pdf
Horse Zodiac Product Profile 2 ↓↓
Contents: Papier-mâché hariko, [NEW!] ceramic figurines
www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/03/31/331_1_file.pdf
Our Horse Zodiac lineup is now complete!
Over 150 SKUs—a powerful catalog for wholesale buyers seeking Japanese New-Year décor, cultural gifts, and import-ready souvenirs.
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【Upcoming Horse-Year New-Year Décor Schedule】
Special thanks to customers who placed early pre-orders!
Our staff and artisans truly appreciate your support. Please await shipment!
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【Washi-Covered Ceramic Figurine Series】
Orders closing end of August ➔ earliest delivery end of October
Orders closing end of September ➔ earliest delivery end of November
*Each figurine is carefully hand-covered with genuine Mino Washi, so production takes time. Please order early!
■ Limited-stock items update■
Although previously marked “sold out upon existing reservations,” strong demand means these items will return in limited quantities!
Because we must procure new materials, preparation will take time. Limited restock planned around late November.
If interested, please place advance reservations soon.
21840 Horse-Year Gold-Throne Washi Horse
21841 Horse-Year Gold-Base Washi Horse
21842 Horse-Year Arrow-Base Washi Horse
21843 Horse-Year Mallet-Base Washi Horse
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■ Zodiac Topic: [Closed] Si-ing Pochibukuro Envelopes
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Pre-orders for Si-ing pochibukuro gift envelopes are now closed.
Thank you for the many orders! Summer-themed and standard envelopes are still available.
We’re delighted to see steady growth in new inquiries and repeat buyers.
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★★★ Hina-Doll & Boy’s-Day Profile Creation Begins! ★★★
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Although this is our busiest season for Zodiac goods,
we never forget Hina-matsuri and Boy’s-Day displays.
New designs are in development and being expanded for 2026!
Advance reservations are available for Hina & Boy’s-Day profiles and catalogs!
Stay tuned for more updates!
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★★★ Latest Blog Updates ★★★
• [Feature] Our Lucky-Cat Maneki-Neko series just got bigger! ↓
From giant display cats to pocket-size netsuke charms—everything Maneki-Neko!
The netsuke launch mid-October.
【12858 Good-Fortune Lucky-Cat Netsuke】 ¥650 + tax (wholesale price)
【Intro Offer for New Items】
Order “Good-Fortune Lucky-Cat Netsuke” together with other Maneki-Neko goods—wholesale subtotal ¥10,000 or more—and get free domestic shipping.
Combine “Maneki-Neko series” (hand-pasted washi ceramic figures, papier-mâché cats, lucky netsuke charms, etc.) with your regular wholesale order—spend ¥10,000+ and shipping is on us!
Click here for the bonus blog featuring our Maneki-Neko lineup ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1377.html
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★★★ Newest Catalog Release ★★★
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【Updated】Craft-Kit Catalog!
Washi Korokoro, Hina displays, Boy’s-Day displays, Torn-Paper Tapestry Kits
Torn-paper kit parts now include tear-guide lines—tear for advanced effect, cut for easy crafting!
Download the kit catalog here ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/48/248_1_file.pdf
Special perk: Free shipping when the total for kits + regular items exceeds ¥10,000.
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★★★ Expanding Our OEM Blog ★★★
We’re turning past OEM projects into detailed blog posts!
Showcasing unique private-label products created by our “Washi Artisan Hands.”
Packed with vivid product photos for easy inspiration—contact us for quotes! More OEM items are in development right now.
• Converting past OEM cases into blog form!
Example: “Tsuwano One-Hundred Scenic Views” now printed on kaishi (Mino-Washi)
Tourism × Kaishi Paper
See “Kaishi Paper – Tsuwano’s 100 Views Through the Seasons” ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1803.html
Created for a retailer in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Original tenugui towel featuring two ice-cream patterns—best-selling novelty at the client’s shop.
Find the “Ice-Cream Pattern Tenugui” here ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1733.html
Artist character turned into a roly-poly Okiagari-Koboshi doll!
Concert merchandise × Mino-Washi
See “Washi Korokoro Komari-chan” here ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1773.html
Browse every OEM—from earliest to latest—on one page ↓
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/oem.html
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~ We Create Custom OEM Products ~
Leveraging 123 Years of Expertise,
we craft exclusive originals just for you!
No. 1 in Certified Mino-Washi Products
From dolls, papier-mâché figures, and stationery to DIY kits and name-branded goods—leave your custom production to us! We propose designs in washi, chirimen, wood, ceramic, and more.
Minimum lot 300 pcs ~ (negotiable by product)
Lead-time Approx. 1–3 months after design approval (negotiable)
*Partial deliveries possible; extra fees may apply for special instructions.
Cost Product processing, prototype fees, label design, mold charges, etc.
Contact our Circulation Dept. for quotes and inquiries.
Contact Ishikawa Paper Goods ← Click
OEM Page (case studies & guide) ← Click
For corporate clients, we offer wholesale pricing.
Corporate transactions, purchases, and inquiries: Contact Ishikawa Paper Goods
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