Toward a future that inspires — HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.
If you live in Kurashiki, you may have heard this phrase in a TV commercial at least once.
HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. (hereafter, “HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.”), widely known in Japan and abroad for its tarpaulins and civil engineering materials, provides durable, weather-resistant tarpaulins used in a wide range of settings, from disaster sites in Japan to agricultural materials markets overseas.
In Mizushima, Kurashiki City, where its headquarters are located, the company also actively engages in cleanup activities and environmental protection in partnership with schools and community organizations, continuing to grow alongside the local community.
We spoke with the company about its history and technology, its ties to the community, and its outlook for the future.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in September 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.
Founded in 1962 in Mizushima, Kurashiki City, HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. is a company that has developed its business based on synthetic fiber processing technology.
With Hagiwara Shoten, originally a wholesaler of goza, as its roots, the company has adapted to changing times and is involved in the manufacture of synthetic resin products, industrial materials, civil engineering materials, and more, including tarpaulins.
Today, the company has production and sales bases in 14 countries worldwide. In Mizushima, Kurashiki City, where its headquarters and main factory are located, it serves as a central hub for everything from research and development to manufacturing.
With approximately 1,300 employees, it is a manufacturer “from Kurashiki” that is rooted in the local community while conducting business from a global perspective.
An Endeavor That Began with “Goza”
The southern part of Okayama Prefecture, including Kurashiki City and Hayashima Town, was once the center of igusa production in Japan.
In the 1960s (the 1950s), Okayama Prefecture accounted for about 80% of the nation’s production, most of which was grown around Kurashiki.
HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.’s roots lie in this igusa culture.
In 1961, Hagiwara Shoten, a wholesaler of hanagoza in Nishi-Achi, Kurashiki City, built the Mizushima Factory to make polyethylene yarn as a substitute for the cotton yarn used as the warp in hanagoza.
The following year, in 1962, the Mizushima Factory became independent and “HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.” was established.
Tarpaulins Protecting Our Lives
HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.’s signature product is the tarpaulin.
Lightweight and highly waterproof, it can be used for many purposes, such as covering and wrapping items, making it indispensable in everyday life and at disaster sites.
They are also commonly used at events, such as for hanami picnics, community sports days, and festivals, and are relied upon in many aspects of daily life.
They are useful not only for emergency roof repairs when a roof leaks, but also during disasters to protect damaged buildings and secure temporary spaces.
Tarpaulin production began in the 1960s.
The original version was created as a cover for the beds of trucks operated by a major transport company.
Few people know that these tarpaulins are actually woven fabric.
Look closely at the surface and you can see the warp and weft threads crossing—this is truly a “woven material.”
Flat Yarn Technology Spreading Worldwide
The foundation of tarpaulins, soundproof sheets, and weed-control sheets is a long, narrow, tape-like fiber called flat yarn.
Weaving this flat yarn produces lightweight, durable, weather-resistant products. HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. has top-level technology in this field in Japan, and its products are also exported overseas.
The company also manufactures and sells industrial machinery using this technology, having developed its own machines for producing flat yarn. Products used at a variety of sites around the world are made in Kurashiki.
Toward Circular Manufacturing
HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. believes it is important to take responsibility not only for “making a product,” but also for what happens “after it has been used.”
One example is its horizontal recycling business, which collects used tarpaulins, washes and shreds them, and recycles them into raw materials.
The company makes effective use of limited resources and contributes to a sustainable society.
As the Only Listed Company Rooted in Mizushima
HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC., which produces tarpaulins on a leading scale in Japan, is based in Mizushima, Kurashiki City, an area known for its industrial zone.
While many companies have moved their headquarters functions to Tokyo or Osaka, HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. is the only listed company whose headquarters functions remain rooted in Kurashiki City.
The company also values its ties with local residents, fulfilling its social responsibilities through sponsorships and disaster relief activities.
We spoke with HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.’s Yoshida Junichi and Yagi Tatsuru about these initiatives and the company’s approach as a business rooted in the local community.
HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. Information
| Organization name | HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacture and sale of related products made using “flat yarn,” a synthetic resin fiber whose main raw materials are polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as industrial machinery such as slitters that apply flat-yarn technology. |
| Representative | Asano Kazushi |
| Year established | November 29, 1962 |
| Address | 1-4 Mizushima Nakadori, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-440-0860 |
| Website | HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. |
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