NIKKO CERAMICS KICKS OFF CENTENNIAL YEAR
AT SPRING TABLETOP SHOW®

Nikko Ceramics is a prime example of a company that has melded its artistic tradition with modern design and 21st century environmental awareness. As it celebrates its 100th anniversary, Nikko has changed its executive lineup and introduced a number of new products and programs in its 21st floor
showroom during the recent Spring Tabletop Market.

A familiar face in the tableware industry, Tage Strom was appointed to head up sales and marketing as Senior VP and Satoshi Sam Ogura became President, succeeding Norm Yamamato, who returned to Japan. Kenji Anazi, Executive VP and CFO, continues to run operations and the U.S. hotel and
restaurant markets.

“We are confident the designs and shapes we showed at Market will expand the Nikko brand to retailers and heighten awareness among consumers,” commented Strom. “Traveling to stores will be a unique,
limited edition Centennial collection we commissioned by three Kutani artists. Our new dinnerware patterns are designed to fit the casual luxury dining trend, including a unique ‘Origami’ shape for the bridal market.”

Silk Rouge: A deep, rich shade of red on Nikko’s brilliant white bone china has the subtle texture of silk faille fabric touched with delicate gold banding. The modern shape fits into today’s casual luxury dining trend. Five-piece place setting, sale retail: $95. A matching mug is also available.

Nikko’s reputation for producing one of the most brilliant white bone china bodies is recognized around the world. Its parent company, Nikko Co. Ltd., is a diversified industrial corporation that produces, among
other products, domestic waste water treatment systems and wind turbines. In March 2008, it became ISO 14001 certified, the international standard that
indicates compliance with environmental management systems.

In 1961 Nikko moved west from Kanazawa to its present location, Hakusan City. Around this time, technological improvements in manufacturing techniques led to significant growth and in 1968 to the founding of Nikko’s subsidiary in the United States.
Shortly after Forty One Madison was constructed in the mid-1970s, Nikko opened its permanent showroom. By the 1980s this ceramics leader expanded again by entering the restaurant and hotel markets. Today, its
Japanese headquarters cover 30 acres of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with 350 highly skilled professionals including a talented design staff, mold
makers and decal artists.

Three renowned Japanese artists were
commissioned to create exhibition pieces for
the Centennial. Designated and back-stamped “Nikko Kutani Art Collection”, all are decorated on bone china and will travel to stores throughout the year. The intricately detailed “Love Legends” pattern reveals an ancient story of love lost. It is rendered in the style of Akae Sansui, an intricate red painting technique with a very fine brush detail, one of Japan’s most difficult traditional art techniques to master. Other commemoratives include a six-piece banquet place setting with lavish, hand-painted raised dots and “Seasons”, 12 decorative square plates, each painted with flowers, birds or trees representing a particular month of the year.

New for the bridal market is a distinctive shape, Origami, with a folded design element that combines a modern feeling with the traditional Japanese paper craft. The shape is being manufactured at several price points in fine bone china and ironstone, both decorated and all-white.

“Our research confirms the trend toward casual luxury dining is here to stay,” continued Strom. “For that customer we have created ‘Silk Rouge’, a rich deep shade of red with a subtle texture, reminiscent of silk faille fabric. Another introduction we presented this market is ‘Kyoto’, an ingenious integration of three geometric serving plates that can be used together to form a perfect square or individually as serving pieces. All in all we are quite optimistic about our Centennial and the opportunities that lie ahead for us in the marketplace.”

NIKKO CERAMICS’ Tage Strom, Sr. VP Sales and Marketing, and Satoshi Sam Ogura, President, recount the story rendered on “Love Legends,” one of the limited edition Centennial pieces. The artist is a consummate master in Akae Sansui, or red painting, one of the most difficult of all Japanese traditional art techniques. Part of a three-piece place setting, each is backstamped with a delicate willow tree motif and designation Nikko Kutani Art Collection.