Discover the unique craftsmanship born out of our ingenious expertise, shaped by the challenges of our unconventional location. Our headquarters and factory are nestled in a coastal town approximately 200 km away from major cities like Osaka and Kobe, where infrastructure development is ongoing but travel still demands 3-4 hours to reach significant urban centers.
In the early days, our location posed inconvenience, with challenging mountainous terrain making access difficult, especially during snowy winters. Yet, our predecessors turned this inconvenience into a catalyst, adopting a spirit of independence by designing, manufacturing, and repairing all production facilities and tools in-house. This philosophy has been steadfastly passed down, constantly questioning what uniqueness truly means, leading us to the essence of our pursuit:
“Craftsmanship that extends to the finest details, akin to the hospitality of ‘Made in Japan.'”
History of JICO
In the year 1873, our journey in craftsmanship began with the production of sewing needles, tailored for the consumption hub of Kyoto. While sewing needles are no longer part of our production, the unexpected path of product development led us to create various items. Even today, we continue to weave new stories.
The era of monaural phonographs transitioned to stereo, and in 1966, we commenced the production of record needles. The starting point of JICO, our record needle under the name “JICO,” encompasses approximately 2,000 models compatible with around 30 manufacturers. Crafted one by one, each needle consists of 2 to 45 parts, meticulously assembled by skilled artisans. Our tools, fixtures, and inspection equipment, essential for maintaining the quality of diverse products, are all designed and manufactured in-house.
Record Needle Business
In 1949, amid the emergence of phonographs in America, we utilized our sewing needle manufacturing expertise to start the production and sales of steel needles for phonographs. Collaborating with other needle factories in the region, we exported our products to 40 countries worldwide.
As monaural phonographs transitioned to stereo, we began producing record needles in 1966. Today, JICO manufactures approximately 2,000 models compatible with around 30 manufacturers, maintaining a consistent production process for each needle.
Other Business Ventures
Beyond record needles, JICO engages in various product manufacturing, each requiring advanced craftsmanship rooted in the detailed skills developed in needle production.
1,Gauge Contact Design and Manufacturing (1973)
2, Development of Medical Instruments and Dental Diamond Bars (1978)
Gauge contacts are used in factories producing parts for automobiles, home appliances, computers, etc., to check the dimensional accuracy of components during grinding. Our production involves using diamonds tailored to specific requirements for various shapes.
Diamond bars are used by dentists for grinding. These bars are crafted using diamonds to achieve sharpness for efficient cutting during dental procedures.
3,Development of CD Pickup Lens Cleaner (1990)
4,Design and Manufacturing of Diamond Dressers (1993)
Designed to clean the lenses of CD players, these cleaners feature ultra-fine fibers to wipe away dirt from the lens surface when the play button is pressed.
Used in factories to grind parts, diamond dressers maintain the precision of grinding stones by shaping them with diamonds.
Commitment and Philosophy
In recent years, our goal has been to “Preserve the World of Sound.” As outlined in this article, each JICO record needle is meticulously handcrafted, a tradition that remains unchanged. As long as there is even one order, we will continue to craft a dn create record needles with dedication.
Company Name NIPPON PRECISION JEWEL INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Tokyo Office: 2-5-2-206 Shimbashi, Minato-ku,Tokyo, Japan 105-0004
E-mail inquiry@jico.co.jp
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