Unagi no Nedoko
A “regional culture trading company” that discovers, curates, and shares products, lifestyles, and ways of living from across Japan, based in Kyushu’s Chikugo region.
Videos & Posts
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Interior of the shop at the former Terasaki Residence operated by Unagi no Nedoko (layout differs from the current store configuration) (Photo by Koichiro Fujimoto, reproduction prohibited)
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A lineup of Kurume kasuri monpe pants (layout differs from the current store configuration) (Photo by Koichiro Fujimoto, reproduction prohibited)
Unagi no Nedoko is a regional culture company founded in 2012 in Yame City, Fukuoka. It began as an antenna shop for the Chikugo region, sharing the stories behind local craftsmanship, people, and place.
Beyond retail, it functions as a hub that connects people and places through products, operating as a “regional culture trading company” that discovers, curates, and shares ways of living, making, and working from across Japan, with a base in Chikugo, Kyushu.
Features
- Strength: Capability to curate and communicate regional culture
- Strength: Unique position as a “regional culture trading company”
- Strength: Integration of product development and distribution
- Strength: Broad network (Kyushu to nationwide)
- Challenge: Complexity in communicating its concept
Our Abilities
Curating regional culture through design, storytelling, and distribution
- Regional culture curation and editing
- Ability to interpret local crafts, lifestyles, and contexts, and translate them into compelling narratives and products.
- Product development rooted in local context
- Creation of original products (e.g., MONPE) that reflect regional materials, techniques, and ways of living.
- Branding and storytelling
- Skill in communicating the value of regional culture through clear concepts, design, and content.
- Distribution and retail design
- Capability to connect producers with markets through curated retail spaces and sales channels.
- Network building and collaboration
- Strong relationships with artisans and producers across regions, enabling cross-regional initiatives and projects.
Reconnecting People with Regional Culture Through Thoughtful Curation
We value rediscovering the meaning embedded in locally rooted craftsmanship and everyday life, and conveying it within a contemporary context. Rather than simply selling products, we aim to share the landscapes, people, and ways of living behind them, creating new relationships between people and place.
Based in the Chikugo region of Kyushu, we engage with makers across Japan to uncover, curate, and communicate the unique qualities of each region. We see it as our mission to carry regional culture into the next generation, and we will continue to build thoughtful, long-term relationships as we move forward.
