A Japanese futon manufacturer celebrating 60 years in business was presented with a hand crafted Shepherd's Crook when it visited the British Wool Marketing Board's (BWMB) head office in Bradford last week.
Romance Kosugi, one of the leading premier futon manufacturers in Japan visited the BWMB as part of its business anniversary celebrations. The BWMB handles the collection, grading, sale and promotion of all UK fleece wool on behalf of 60,000 British sheep farmers
The Japanese company, based in Osaka, is a long standing licensee of the BWMB marketing scheme, which enables members to use the registered 'shepherd's crook' quality trademark. British Wool is highly prized in Japan and is primarily used for the production of premier quality futons, although finer quality British Wool is valued for the manufacture of suits and quality apparel.
Mr Genichiro Kosugi, company president and CEO was accompanied on the visit by his marketing manager Mr Masayuki Hirano and Mr Hiroyuki Takegawa, senior manager of the Aberno Stores in Osaka, which is a major buyer of futons. The futon is the bed option used in Japan by approximately 127 million people, it is made from synthetic as well as wool but wool is seen as superior due to its ability to withstand pressure and retain comfort levels.
Mr Ian Hartley, managing director of the BWMB presented Mr Kosugi with the Shepherd's Crook as a celebratory gesture to mark their 60th anniversary and in respect of their long standing loyalty to British Wool. The crook was made in South Yorkshire by a specialist craftsman and is the symbol of the British sheep farmer.
"Romance Kosugi is a quality manufacturer which has placed great emphasis on using quality fibre. The use of British Wool in futons is supported by British Wool marketing and the partnership between our two organisations has been very successful." Said Mr Hartley for BWMB.
"We produce a product where the emphasis is on quality. British Wool is a superior fibre for the futon and we have invested heavily in educating the buyer to understand the benefits of choosing a more expensive but far better product. " Commented Mr Genichiro Kosugi.
The Romance Kosugi visitors went on to see the Hampshire Down breed of sheep on-farm near York, which is the breed exclusively bought for use in their futons.
