President Toru Takayama received the Award of Decoration from the Emperor of Japan in November 2023 in recognition of his contribution to the company’s remarkable progress
Japan might be grappling with an aging population and a shrinking domestic market, but for Takayama Reed President, Toru Takayama, the answer does not necessarily lie in automation.
“Everything we have here at our company,” he says, “is a result of our expertise and knowledge, and we cannot turn our back on that craftsmanship after more than 100 years in business.”
Mr. Takayama is adamant that the best way for younger employees to learn is from experienced craftsmen, and this inter-generational technology transfer means the company currently enjoys the number one share in reed manufacturing around the globe.
Products such as ETp, a low-friction surface treatment, and Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC), a coating to cover dents, have helped cement this status in the eyes of clients worldwide.
And, having recently presented several new products at this year’s International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITMA Europe), the firm has started to diversify its business.
In addition to manufacturing reeds, Takayama now has the ability to sell and service various testing machines imported from overseas, including the TEXTEST from Switzerland, with whom it has had a relationship for 30 years.
As for partnerships in international markets, however, challenges remain. Mr. Takayama again: “We pride ourselves in maintaining very traditional ways, which would not go well with many foreign companies.”
Even so, America remains big business, with a new distributor helping to ensure that more than 50 Takayama Reed shipments have made their way across to the U.S. in 2023 so far alone.
“Customers in America recognize the value of our products,” Mr. Takayama explains, “because they know the quality is high, and they know the product is going to give them the best features.”
Looking to the future, Mr. Takayama is keen to treasure the company’s human capital. That, and to uphold its commitment to quality: “Quality comes first and it is the number one aspect that we would like to emphasize in everything we do here.”
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