Hokkaido seafood and mountain gifts, ceramics, glass, and woodwork

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Hokkaido, where we live, is blessed with abundant nature that changes with the seasons. There, we find beautiful mountain ridges, vibrantly colored autumn leaves, tranquil snowscapes, and a land surrounded by magnificent scenery.

"Northern Handicrafts" are born from a perspective nurtured by having feet on the ground in Hokkaido and interacting daily with the vast nature. We deliver works that can only be created here, along with the thoughts of the creators who have gazed upon the land of Hokkaido.

See details of "Kita no Teshigoto"

Give Otaru as a gift.

From the "Old Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
From UNGAPLUS, which brings you the "Story of Otaru" that walked alongside the Kitamae ships,
We will introduce you to "Places to visit in Otaru."

Please enjoy Otaru.

↓ Introducing the works
↓ UNGAPLUS wrapping
↓ Hokkaido ceramics
↓ Hokkaido glass
↓ Hokkaido woodwork

Introducing the works

Purchase 　ITAYA SPIRIT

Purchase 　KIM GRASS DESIGN

Purchase 　Liaison

Purhase 　Hiroaki Shimizu

UNGAPLUS wrapping

Box and wrapping paper

We have prepared two sizes of original gift boxes inspired by the pure white sails of Kitamae ships, recalling the memories and history of the town that prospered through trade on the Kitamae ships. Using old photographs of Kitamae ships, we will wrap your gift in original wrapping paper inspired by the "hikifuda" (flying cards) that were used as advertisements for shops and wholesalers from the Edo to Taisho periods, and deliver it along with the charms of Otaru. Click here for more details

Gift Box

wrapping paper

paper bag

The large stone warehouses that symbolize Otaru, which flourished as a commercial port during the Meiji period, are still the main buildings that make up the Otaru cityscape. The "Old Otaru Warehouse" in which our store is located is one of the warehouses that represents the North Canal. Our paper bags are printed with a precious photograph of the "Old Otaru Warehouse" from around 1907. For more information, click here

paper bag

tag

The wrapping tag features the Kitamae-bune ship logo and is available in three different designs: "UNGAPLUS logo" with no message, and "THANKYOU" and "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" with messages .

About tags

wrapping paper

You can choose from a variety of wrapping paper inscriptions.

Hokkaido manufacturing

The history of Hokkaido ceramics

Currently, there are around 300 pottery (ceramics) kilns operating throughout Hokkaido, but it is said that pottery production in the prefecture began during the Ansei era at the end of the Edo period.

It first appeared in Hakodate, where it was called "Hakodate ware" after the place name "Hakodate" at the time. In 1857, the Hakodate magistrate obtained permission from the Edo Shogunate in an attempt to develop a local industry, and people from Mino (Gifu Prefecture) started the first pottery industry in Hokkaido in 1859. At the time, it seems that small porcelain items were the main focus. They were also transported to Honshu by Kitamae ships.

However, due to difficulties with Hokkaido's winter climate and the high cost of materials, the factory closed after about 3-4 years. It is said that only about 100 examples of Hakodate ware remain in Japan.

With the establishment of the new Meiji government and the start of the Hokkaido development era, settlers began opening potteries all over the prefecture. In 1872, Honda Keijiro, who had settled in Otaru Tsuchiba (present-day Sumiyoshicho) from Tokoname, Aichi, started a pottery business called "Tsuchiyaki." The pottery continued for about 70 years, through three generations, until 1943.

In 1900, Shirase Shinji, who immigrated from Echigo, built a kiln in Hanazonocho, Otaru, and began firing bowls and vases. This led to "Otaru ware" becoming famous nationwide. There are many different types of Otaru ware, but it is particularly famous for its pottery using a green glaze reminiscent of Hokkaido's lakes, and it pursued a unique Hokkaido flavor. Due to a lack of successors, the craftsmanship came to an end in 2007, ending its long history of 107 years.

"Sapporo ware" began in Sapporo. In 1899 (Meiji 32), Ezo Ceramics Limited Partnership was established, in 1903 (Meiji 36), Hokkaido Refractory Brick Limited Partnership established its head office in Sapporo, and in 1914 (Taisho 3), Sapporo Ceramic Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was established, which was acquired the following year in 1915 and became Nakai Ceramic Factory. "Sapporo ware" was mainly pottery for practical use such as tea bowls and teapots.

Although Sapporo ware began in this way, its history did not last long. In October 1925, it was closed due to the bankruptcy of related companies and the influx of ceramics from Honshu. Sapporo ware was forgotten until a brick climbing kiln was excavated during the construction of Asahiyama Memorial Park, bringing it back to light. The remains of the kiln have been selected as "No. 048 of Sapporo's 100 Hometown Cultural Selections."

Other examples include Shintotsukawa ware, which began in Hashimoto, Shintotsukawa Town, Sorachi District in 1910 and continued until 1914. Yakumo ware, which opened in Oshin, Yakumo Town, Oshima District, around the beginning of 1900, was produced. Muroran ware was born in the Taisho era, and production temporarily ceased, but kilns using this name have been revived in recent years. Kobushi ware, which began in 1946 based on sea cucumber glaze, is mainly produced in Iwamizawa. In Ebetsu City, Komori Shinobu started the Hokuto Kiln, and the city is known as a pottery town, where events are still held today.

Purchase 　Mitsu Kazuhiro

Purchase 　Nakajima Tomoyuki

Purchase　Iwayama Yohei

Purchase 　Saito Yusuke

Purchase 　Takayuki Ueda

Purchase 　Toshihisa Oishi

The history of glass in Hokkaido

Glass has been used since ancient times in human history, but its history in Hokkaido began in Otaru during the Meiji era. Otaru is now famous as one of Japan's leading glass towns, but at the time, the glass industry began with the production of oil lamps, which were daily necessities, and floats used in fishing.

In the late 1800s, the Meiji government began developing Hokkaido, and Otaru became the center of Hokkaido's maritime logistics, resulting in a rapid increase in population. Many financial institutions established branches in Otaru, and the city became known as the Wall Street of the North, and it also developed as an international trading port. It was around this time that the glass industry began.

At the time, glass kerosene lamps, rather than electricity, were the main lighting source in Hokkaido homes. Glass factories used scrap glass to produce lamp tubes, as well as household items such as bottles and goldfish bowls. From the late Edo period through the Taisho period, the manufacture of glass products developed, centering on glass floats developed for use in herring fishing, which was a major industry in Hokkaido. Demand then began to decline with the spread of electricity and the decline of herring fishing.

The era of glass products as daily necessities and practical items came to an end, and an era of producing glassware, vases, and other crafts began. The popularity of Otaru's glass crafts spread rapidly when Kitaichi Glass, founded in 1901, began selling glass oil lamps to tourists as souvenirs.

Since then, many glass crafts have been created that exude a sense of comfort and warmth, with a focus on color and design. At the same time, many glass artists were born, and glass was reborn not as tools but as tableware such as vases and glasses, and the city has grown into a glass town. There are over 60 stores in Otaru that manufacture and sell unique glass works and souvenir glass, supporting the glass culture and brand.

Purchase 　The float glass

P urchase 　Otaru Retro Kiriko

Purchase 　Shiraho Glass

Purchase 　Otaru Glass Kagami Mochi

Glass Studio Tanuma 　Purchase

Purchase 　Fukagawa Glass Crafts

The history of woodworking in Hokkaido

The history of woodworking in Hokkaido began with the furniture industry in Asahikawa in the mid-Meiji period. With the establishment of the 7th Army Division and the opening of the railway, woodworking factories were established to maintain passenger cars, and many architects and joiners migrated from Honshu, and the production of desks, chairs, and other furniture began.

Currently, it is said that about 60% of the furniture manufactured in Hokkaido is produced in Asahikawa, with over 100 businesses in the city. Asahikawa furniture is renowned for its abundant wood resources, advanced processing techniques, and sophisticated designs that are internationally recognized.

On the other hand, when it comes to Hokkaido woodworking, many people probably think of the famous souvenir "wooden carved bear" holding a salmon in its mouth. The first wooden carved bear is said to have been made in Yakumo Town on the Oshima Peninsula in southern Hokkaido. Production of wooden carved bears began 97 years ago, in 1924.

In Yakumo Town was the Tokugawa Farm, run by the Owari Tokugawa family. The farm's owner, the 19th head of the family, Tokugawa Yoshichika, is said to have purchased a wooden carving of a bear from Switzerland while on a tour of Europe. Using this carving as a reference, he created a variety of bears, including one that was walking or sitting, and one that could be used as a pipe holder or ashtray.

Yakumo's wooden bear carvings were highly acclaimed at various craft exhibitions and competitions, and in 1926, two years after the original was made in Yakumo, Ainu Matsui Umetaro of Asahikawa created another wooden bear carving. Influenced by Yakumo, this bear carving became famous as an Ainu carving. The rise of wooden bear carvings, combined with the boom in Hokkaido travel before the war, made "wooden bear carvings" such popular souvenirs that it was said that every household had one.

Guchico. 　Purchase

Hiroaki Shimizu Kuma Sophora 　Purchase

Hiroaki Shimizu Nenrin Bowl 　Purchase

Purchase 　the ARAMAKI tissue case

UNGAPLUS

Good luck from the shipping town of Otaru...
May the flow that has been protected without interruption be your ally and open up your luck.

During the Meiji period, Otaru flourished as the gateway to the development of Hokkaido.
Kitamae ships flapped their pure white sails across the ocean, traveling to and from Honshu and bringing many goods and cultures to this area.

UNGAPLUS delivers original products that incorporate the history and culture of Otaru, as well as high-quality products from the ports of call of the Kitamae ships, from the former Otaru Main Warehouse, the first commercial warehouse in Hokkaido, built by Kitamae ship owners Nishide Magozaemon and Nishitani Shohachi.

The story of Otaru, which has walked alongside the Kitamae ships, can be heard from this place.

We are looking forward to your visit and have a wide selection of original items that are only available here and make great souvenirs.

Click here for details on "UNGAPLUS" Store name : UNGAPLUS

address : 2-1-20 Ironai, Otaru 047-0031

phone : 0134-65-8150

Opening hours : 10:00~18:00

Closed days : Open everyday

Home page : Click here for the homepage