Blog: Tulip and the Art of the Hiroshima Needle

For over 300 years, the city of Hiroshima has been the place where Japan's finest needles are made. Today, Hiroshima produces over 90% of all sewing needles and pins in the country. And at the heart of that tradition is Tulip.

A history rooted in iron and water

The story of the Hiroshima needle begins in the Edo period, when the ruling Asano Clan introduced needle-making as piecework for low-ranking samurai seeking to support themselves. The craft took hold in the Kake region, a mountainous area about 50 kilometres upstream from Hiroshima Bay along the Ota River,  where iron sand from the Chugoku Mountains was forged using the traditional Tatara iron-making method. That iron was then transported down the Ota River to Hiroshima, where it was processed into needles. Geography, history and craft came together in a way that has never really stopped.

Over generations, what began as a local cottage industry became one of Japan's most recognised craft traditions. The name "Hiroshimahari" — Hiroshima Needle — is today a registered as a regional collective trademark, for the brand of needles created in Hiroshima.

Tulip, a trusted needle maker with tradition

Tulip was founded in this same Hiroshima tradition and has never left it. Their factory remains in the Hiroshima region, and their philosophy remains unchanged: to make tools that support a fulfilling creative life. What sets Tulip apart is their manufacturing process: each needle passes through over 30 carefully controlled steps, combining traditional techniques handed down through generations of skilled craftsmen with cutting-edge cutting, grinding and polishing technology. The result is a needle with a smooth-surfaced eye that makes threading easier and prevents thread from breaking.

The difference is felt most in long crafting sessions. A well-made needle causes less fatigue, fewer frustrations and more flow. That is not a small thing for someone who spends hours at a time stitching, embroidering or quilting.

That same belief extends across their entire range, from sewing and embroidery needles to ergonomic crochet hooks, bamboo knitting needles, beading tools and needle felting tools. The Etimo crochet hooks carry the same attention to detail as the needles, a smooth-polished aluminium tip that lets yarn glide without catching, paired with a practical softgrip handle designed for hours of comfortable use. The Etimo Murasaki variant comes in beautiful shades of Murasaki purple, a colour deeply rooted in Japanese tradition.

Every product in the Tulip range, regardless of category, comes back to the same idea: that the quality of your tools shapes the quality of your experience.

Why it matters for your assortment

The combination of heritage, precision and thoughtful design creates a loyalty that is hard to replicate. Whether your customers are experienced embroiderers looking for the perfect tapestry needle, or crochet enthusiasts who want a hook that won't tire their hands, Tulip has something for them, and it will exceed their expectations.