Eirakuya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
Native name | 株式会社 永楽屋 |
|---|---|
| Industry | Production and retail of traditional Japanese tenugui. |
| Founded | 1615 (established 1959) |
| Headquarters | Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan |
| Website | http://eirakuya.jp/ |
Eirakuya Co. Ltd. (株式会社 永楽屋 かぶしきがいしゃ えいらくや kabushiki-gaisha Eirakuya)[1] is a Japanese manufacturer and vendor of tenugui (hand towels)[2] located in the Nakagyō-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan.[3] It was founded in 1615.
The company was founded in the year 1615[4] and is known as the oldest cotton cloth dealer of Japan.[1] Before the Bakumatsu, the store of the business was lost in fires twice and was reconstructed in the early Meiji Period. However, during WWII the building was demolished as part of the firewall construction plans of the time.[2]
After the war, the company was formally established in 1959,[1] with focus in the production and selling of towels, facing strong competition from foreign brands. Later in 1999, the company shifted back to producing traditional tenugui and was able to achieve financial stability after a long period of crisis.[2]
