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Traditional game in summer festivals: fishing
Have you ever played the game of “fishing” in a night market? Fishing is one of the essential classic stalls in summer festivals across Japan. However, when it comes to the “paper nets” used for fishing, only a very small number of factories are still producing them today. Recently, a Japanese variety show made a special trip to Nara Prefecture to visit a paper mesh factory hidden in a residential area.
Surprisingly, this factory generates an annual revenue of over 30 million yen solely through the production of paper webs. Not only that, these paper webs also have unexpected applications in modern medical education! Let’s take a look at the story behind this together.
A low-key yet not simple factory
This Japanese variety show came to a residential area in Nara Prefecture, where there is a company with the highest market share for a certain product.
After some exploration, it was discovered that this company actually produces paper nets for fishing – a common item in Japanese summer festivals.
This factory, called Horida Plastic Industry, although it looks very ordinary in appearance, its fish catching paper nets have a market share of up to 60% in the Japanese market.
The factory produces 5 million fishing nets annually using a single machine. Simply attach the paper to a plastic bracket to complete a fishing net.
The method of using stickers is a trade secret and cannot be shown to you, “said the factory director with a smile
What’s even more surprising is that the paper mesh produced by this factory has been selected as the official designated net for the “Japan Fishing National Competition”!
The secret of paper mesh: different thicknesses, different experiences
There are various thicknesses of fishing paper nets, with the thinnest No.7 net only able to withstand the weight of 13 one yen coins, while the thickest No.4 net can withstand 51 one yen coins.
According to the factory owner, the owners of fishing stalls usually use thicker paper nets to attract customers first, and then switch to thinner paper nets when the crowd gathers to increase the turnover rate.
Horida Plastic Industry generates an annual revenue of 30 million yen solely by producing these paper webs. However, this factory is not solely relying on these traditional products to make ends meet. The boss has also invested a lot of energy in developing new products and expanding the business to other fields.
Unexpected Applications in Medical Education
Recently, this factory has developed a new type of paper mesh called “e-Suture”, which is not only used for fishing, but also introduced into medical education to help medical students practice surgical sutures.
Medical students at Nagoya City University are using this type of paper mesh for suturing practice because the mesh is very thin and easily damaged. If the mesh can be successfully sutured, the operation on patients will be more proficient.
Although there are specialized tools available in the market for surgical practice, these specialized equipment are expensive, costing 1 million yen each, and many universities are unable to equip them for all students.
In contrast, the “e-Suture” improved by the fishing paper net only costs 30 yen each, making it a very cost-effective option.
The students who practiced with paper nets said, ‘As long as you don’t apply the right force or shake your hands, it’s easy to break the net. It’s really difficult to practice.’.
But even though it’s part of the course, it feels like playing a game, very fun
Challenges and achievements of cross-border innovation
At the end of the program, the host posed a very direct question to the factory owner: “Is it profitable to produce paper nets for surgical practice
The boss smiled and replied, “At present, it can only be said to be an investment status. However, I only know how to make fishing paper nets, so I am very happy to be able to enter the field of medicine through it
This factory owner has not only maintained the traditional industry with his professional skills, but also successfully applied it to new fields. This kind of cross-border innovation is both a challenge and an achievement, and this persistence and breakthrough show us a unique craftsmanship spirit.