What is truly important to people?
How can people become happy?

We at Iwate Steel Corporation are constantly asking ourselves this question. The origins of our manufacturing began at the time of our founding with the desire to support the post-war reconstruction of Japan while also developing the local economy.

In 1949 (Showa 24), the Kamaishi Mine, which produced high-quality iron ore, was located in the coastal area of ​​Iwate Prefecture, the number one producer of charcoal in Japan.

Steel is also known as the "rice of industry," and during wartime Japan boasted an annual production of 8 million tons. However, many steel mills were burned down during the war, and by 1950, shortly after the war, annual production had plummeted to 560,000 tons.

Iwate Steel was established to support Japan's post-war reconstruction by making effective use of local charcoal and iron ore to produce steel, known as the "rice of industry."

At its peak, the company produced and sold 80,000 tons per year of pig iron (iron extracted from iron ore) for casting in blast furnaces to the country's core industries.

Iwate Steel's blast furnace (photo from that time)

What is truly important to people?
How can people become happy?

We at Iwate Steel Corporation are constantly asking ourselves this question. The origins of our manufacturing began at the time of our founding with the desire to support the post-war reconstruction of Japan while also developing the local economy.

In 1949 (Showa 24), the Kamaishi Mine, which produced high-quality iron ore, was located in the coastal area of ​​Iwate Prefecture, the number one producer of charcoal in Japan.

Steel, also known as the "rice of industry," boasted an annual domestic production of 8 million tons during the war. However, many steel mills were burned down during the war, and by 1950, shortly after the war, annual production had plummeted to 560,000 tons.

Iwate Steel was established to support Japan's post-war reconstruction by making effective use of local charcoal and iron ore to produce steel, known as the "rice of industry."

At its peak, the company produced and sold 80,000 tons per year of pig iron (iron extracted from iron ore) for casting in blast furnaces to the country's core industries.

Under the direction of President Ohara, a project to create a new era of "ironware" that would completely change the conventional image of "ironware" began seven years ago in 2016.

Ohara: " Bronze and iron tools appeared in the late Jomon period, but even with all this technological advancement and development, iron has always remained heavy and breakable. The image of it being prone to rust has not changed. It is up to us, who have been involved in steelmaking and casting for so long, to innovate. Let's make thin, light iron. Let's make iron that won't break or rust. Let's make ironware that can be used comfortably for a long time. If we can help people to make their lives even more fulfilling by making this a reality, perhaps the good qualities of iron will once again be recognized and appreciated by the world... That's what I thought. "

Under the direction of President Ohara, a project to create a new era of "ironware" that would completely change the conventional image of "ironware" began seven years ago in 2016.

Ohara: " Bronze and iron tools appeared in the late Jomon period, but even with all this technological advancement and development, iron has always remained heavy and breakable. The image of it being prone to rust has not changed. It is up to us, who have been involved in steelmaking and casting for so long, to innovate. Let's make thin, light iron. Let's make iron that won't break or rust. Let's make ironware that can be used comfortably for a long time. If we can help people to make their lives even more fulfilling by making this a reality, perhaps the good qualities of iron will once again be recognized and appreciated by the world... That's what I thought. "

Thus , after three years of development and numerous trials and errors, the Ductile Series was born: a new generation of ironware that is incredibly thin , light , rust-proof , and non-stick , and can be used for a longer period of time .

Ohara: " The times are constantly evolving. We need to keep up with this trend and create things that are truly necessary for people, that are useful, and that people will be happy with. That is the mission of Iwate Steel. So I don't think we necessarily need to pursue quantity. What's important is how people can become happy. What can Iwate Steel do to achieve that? That's what I want to keep focusing on."

Iwate Steel's manufacturing, which inherits the genes of "iron" along with the new-age ironware "Ductile Series" that is packed with over 70 years of technology and passion, will continue to move forward with an eye to the future and the happiness of people.