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The philosophy of functional beauty learned in Germany.
Since the Meiji period, Asahikawa has been a gathering place for woodworking craftsmen from all over the country, and has developed into one of Japan's leading furniture production areas. One of the reasons for the growth of the industry is that Asahikawa city has been focusing on training craftsmen from an early stage.
Symbolizing this was the "overseas woodworking technical trainees." In 1962, Asahikawa City sent several representatives to West Germany as overseas woodworking technical trainees to learn about the sophisticated techniques and designs of Europe. In 1968, our founder, Toshiji Nohara, traveled to West Germany as the third group of overseas woodworking technical trainees.
German furniture at the time was known for its functional designs influenced by the Bauhaus. Bauhaus was a German design movement that combined art and crafts to pursue functional beauty. Its ideas had a major impact on later modernist design, including Scandinavian furniture, and created a new lifestyle after the war.
It was in Germany that our founder encountered "system furniture," which could be considered the origins of our company.
Mabeltoco is established and grows as a manufacturer of system furniture.
After returning to Japan, the founder established "MÖBEL TOKO" in 1972. This was due to his desire to create the system furniture he learned about in West Germany. MÖBEL means "furniture" in German, and TOKO comes from Toko Sangyo, the company where the founder worked.
While producing sideboards and kitchen cabinets, Moebertoko also produced "system furniture" that could be customized by combining units. In 1980, they created the "Andes" series of system furniture, which became their flagship product.
Furniture is closely related to people's lifestyles. Rather than adapting your lifestyle to your furniture, you should adapt your furniture to your lifestyle - this idea may have been the fundamental guideline for Moebertoko's furniture making.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, WOW takes a new step forward.
Thanks to your support, we will celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2022 and start a new history under the name "WOW". "WOW" has two meanings: "an exclamation" and "worthwhile wood". Designs that excite you just by looking at them and functional beauty that makes you want to use them. By experiencing joy and surprise through our furniture, limited trees come to life as "worthwhile trees".
Our company has been supported by countless connections. We have been able to achieve great results through collaboration with many people.
Looking back, it all began with an overseas woodworking training program.
If our founder had not studied German furniture making, he would not have had the passion to make system furniture, and Möbel Toko would not have been born in the first place. Based on this history, we will continue to take on new challenges and contribute to the development of society by providing products that exceed our customers' expectations.
