Shokunin Store - New South Wales

Shokunin Store offers the finest Japanese artisan products including items designed in Australia featuring Japanese artists or materials sourced in Japan. Founded by Yuko who is Japanese and is passionate about introducing traditional Japanese crafts that make a positive difference to our lives. Other crafted items are designed to enrich your lives with exquisite artistic values and innovative designs. Shokunin Store has beautifully handcrafted garden tools, kitchen knives, ceramics and home furnishings that are truly unique and have rarely been seen outside of Japan.

I would like to be financially independent - something I haven’t been able to achieve since having children. All my life I’ve worked as a bridge between Japan and Australia and that’s where I feel most valued. I believe Australia can benefit from what I can offer, particularly tools. I helped my Aussie husband source his professional tools from Japan which is how I started this journey. They work better, which makes your life easier; they are more ergonomic, which reduces injuries; and they are made with more natural materials that last longer and are repairable, which means more sustainable. Japanese traditionally do not throw away tools, particularly blades. I believe this is culture that Australia would resonate and benefit from.

My other “why” is to protect and promote traditional Japanese craftsmen that are seriously challenged for survival after many centuries in business. Japan is experiencing a rapid decline in population and their domestic market is shrinking. Due to language and cultural barriers they find it difficult to expand sales channels overseas. All the knowledge and skills will disappear if not passed on to the next generation. They also suffer from copies and mass produced alternatives that don’t offer the same quality.

I would like to connect Australian consumers and businesses directly to these craftsmen. Ii can help in producing high quality custom made items, weather it’s knives with your own design, ceramics with a hand painted cuckoo or a cookie cutter shaped in your logo.

Shop Yuko's exquisite products below.