Tojiro deploys SBI Traceability solution for authenticity verification

SBI Traceability announces that the tracing services “SHIMENAWA”, which realizes brand protection through advanced technology integration, has been introduced at Tojiro.

Tojiro, a specialized knife manufacturer headquartered in Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture, one of Japan’s leading metal processing product centers, has been actively expanding overseas, participating in major European exhibitions since 2004. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, its overseas sales have continued to grow, with overseas sales now accounting for 40–50% of its total sales.

However, as the company grew in overseas markets and gained brand recognition, the distribution of counterfeit products and their sale on overseas e-commerce sites through personal imports became more noticeable. This led to issues such as decreased sales of genuine products due to consumers mistakenly purchasing counterfeits, and price erosion in overseas markets.

Therefore, Tojiro decided to implement “SHIMENAWA” to establish an environment where consumers can easily verify the authenticity of knives and brands by firmly linking digital information to prove the knives and brands through the integration of blockchain technology and IoT, i.e. NFC tags. Additionally, by linking shipping destination information to the unique IDs assigned to each knife with NFC tags, “SHIMENAWA” can identify the source of knives flowing into overseas e-commerce sites.

As a countermeasure against counterfeits and related issues, the Company and Tojiro will first prevent brand impairment through the “authenticity verification” function, and in the future, they will strive to plan various initiatives to enhance customer loyalty for the “TOJIRO” brand and implement new functions.

Smartly Proving Authenticity with “SHIMENAWA”

“SHIMENAWA” has the following three basic functions to protect the brands of important products. Additionally, for NFC tags with tamper-detection feature, a special screen is displayed only to those who purchase and open the product, enabling them to be directed to a limited site or receive an NFT. This allows for initiatives to improve customer loyalty through NFTs firmly linked to physical assets, utilizing the comprehensive NFT operation support service “SBINFT Mits” provided by SBINFT Corporation.

• Authenticity Verification Function
  By firmly linking the unique ID recorded in the NFC tag set on each product (physical asset) and the digital information of “when”, “where”, and “who manufactured the product” recorded on the blockchain in an unalterable state, the origin of the product is firmly verified.
• Tamper-Detection Function
  Customers can prove that the purchased product is an unopened genuine item and experience a new value by recording the “moment you opened it” on a map with an entertaining feature. Additionally, this function can obtain data such as “when” and “where” the product was “opened (consumed)”, which manufacturers and sellers can utilize for intelligent management.
• Genuine Product Management Function
  Manufacturers can manage the unique IDs assigned to each product with NFC tags by linking them to shipping destination information in a database. This not only deters unauthorized diversion but also allows for understanding the tendencies of illegally diverted products and managing sales channels accordingly.

Tojiro — Tradition and Innovation

The techniques used to forge Japanese swords from tamahagane (Japanese steel) are also applied to Tojiro knives. One of the materials Tojiro handles is called “rikikizai”, which originated from “uchi-hamono” (forged blades) that inherited the sword-making methods and is backed by highly advanced techniques passed down from ancient times. Additionally, Tojiro specializes in the “nuki-hamono” (stamped blades) techniques that take advantage of the regional characteristics of Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture.

Nuki-hamono involves forming the blade by stamping it from a metal plate using a mold, which is characterized by consistent quality and efficient production. While some degree of efficiency is possible through machinery, it is ultimately the skills and intuition of the craftsmen that become the deciding factor. Because these are tools that people will directly touch and use, Tojiro respects the craftsmanship that forms the foundation of manufacturing, and at Tojiro, craftsmen meticulously oversee every process until they are satisfied. Tojiro’s knives, produced through a combination of traditional techniques and modern industrial technologies, have earned high praise from around the world.

As one of the few integrated knife manufacturers in Japan, Tojiro will continue to pursue the harmonization of tradition and technological innovation.

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