Company Profile
We continue to craft,
bringing light to people's lives and hearts,
spinning threads and creating.
To light up people's lives and hearts
Since our founding, we have continued to create things that do not yet exist in the world, enriching people's lives through manufacturing. This spirit has been passed down through generations of the Hikobe family. We will continue to create products that enrich lives and minds through the new products we develop.
To introduce new things to the world through science
Since our establishment, we have continuously shared our creations with the world. Just as Kiryu-ori once took its first step onto the global stage, Hikobe Kagaku will deliver its new creations to the world.
Joyful and dedicated craftsmanship
Handmade Craftsmanship
Each item is meticulously crafted by hand. We pour the soul of our artisans into our work, continuously striving to transform silent products into eloquent ones.
Joyful Craftsmanship
We approach our craft with continuous thought and exploration, aiming to imbue the finished products with a sense of joy for those who experience them.
Dedicated Craftsmanship
We remain wholeheartedly dedicated to every single item we create. Our goal is for everything we produce to remain supreme and unparalleled.
Itomaki Shade is a lighting fixture by Hikobe Science that creates light by winding thread. Each one is handcrafted in a workshop in Kiryu.
The thread is wound by a special machine designed exclusively for this lighting. However, it's not entirely machine-made. The thickness of the thread, the density of the overlap, the finish's appearance – a craftsman carefully winds each one, verifying it with the machine. The precision of the machine and the warmth of handwork. Where these two intersect, a cocoon-like shape is born.
The light that spills through the gaps in the threads spreads into the space as a soft, glare-free glow. It is light, hard to break, and resistant to dust. Practicality that blends into daily life is also a feature of this light. This technology has been refined over many years through OEM supply to domestic and international lighting brands, and is now delivered to the world from the Kiryu workshop under our own brand, "hico."
Memories of yarn, into the light.
Our company was founded in 1956 in Hirozawa, Kiryu, a town renowned for its textiles. The founder was an inventor who addressed the challenges faced by this "city of threads," and his favorite saying was, "Make products that speak for themselves."
In this land, where we have lived alongside thread, we have strived for three generations to balance the quality of handcraftsmanship with a robust production system. We now deliver the techniques we have refined directly to you under the name "hico."
We believe that light not only adorns a space but also transforms the quality of the time spent within it. By weaving the memories of thread, we aim to be a company that brings tranquility to your everyday life, and we are dedicated to our craft each and every day.
Hayato Hikobe, Representative Director
| Trade Name | Hikobe Science Co., Ltd. HIKOBE SCIENCE CO., LTD. |
| Founding | 1956 |
| Representative | Representative Director Hayato Hikobe |
| Location | 376-0013 6-873 Hirosawacho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma TEL：0277-53-5511 FAX：0277-54-3787 |
| Business activities | OEM manufacturing of lighting shades Design and manufacturing of custom lighting Manufacturing of cleaning tools (crimped yarn application) Planning and sales of our own brand "hico" |
| Main clients | Major lighting manufacturer / Luxury hotels and ryokans / Commercial facilities / Architectural firms |
Lighting consultations
From a single consultation to custom and OEM orders. Please feel free to tell us about your needs, including size, material, and delivery time. We will let you know what we can do from our workshop in Kiryu.