Our History
The History of Our Craft as Kamaboko Artisans in Odawara
Our History
Yamajou Kamaboko traces its origins back to 1878 (Meiji 11), when the 7th-generation head transitioned the family business from rice trading to seafood and kamaboko production.
However, the family's business roots go back more than three centuries, beginning in the Edo period, when the founder, Mancho Komeya Hanzaemon, established a rice merchant shop in what was then the Mannencho district of Odawara.
For over two centuries, the family operated as rice merchants under successive generations. In 1878, the business was reorganized to focus on producing kamaboko, launching what would become Yamajou Kamaboko.
In 1955 (Showa 30), the company name was formally changed to Yamajou Kamaboko.
Today, the 11th generation continues the tradition of crafting authentic Odawara-style kamaboko, preserving the original techniques while adapting to modern tastes.
Company Timeline
- First Generation: Mancho Komeya Hanzaemon (before Genroku era)
- Second Generation: succeeded
- Third Generation: succeeded
- Fourth Generation: succeeded
- Fifth Generation: succeeded
- Sixth Generation: Wakichi
- Seventh Generation: Togoro
- Spring 1878 (Meiji 11): Closed rice business
- Fall 1878 (Meiji 11): Established Yamajou Yoneman Kamaboko Store (seafood and kamaboko production)
- Eighth Generation: Uemura Mankichi
- Ninth Generation: Uemura Wakichi
- Tenth Generation: Uemura Kosaburo
- July 1, 1955 (Showa 30): Established Yamajou Kamaboko Co., Ltd.
- 1983 (Showa 58): Constructed a frozen processing plant
- Eleventh Generation: Junsei Uemura
Awards & Honors
- 1966 (Showa 41): Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 19th National Kamaboko Competition
- 1967 (Showa 42): Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 20th National Kamaboko Competition
- 1968 (Showa 43): Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 21st National Kamaboko Competition
- 1969 (Showa 44): Awarded by the Odawara Health Office Director
- 1970 (Showa 45): Awarded by the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture for health and sanitation
- 1974 (Showa 49): Presented to Prince and Princess Takamatsu
- 1976 (Showa 51): Designated as an Excellent Factory by Kanagawa Prefecture
- 1998 (Heisei 10): Designated as a Kanagawa SME Model Factory
- 2002 (Heisei 14): Awarded by the Japan Food Sanitation Association
- 2003 (Heisei 15): Kiwami received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 56th National Kamaboko Competition
- 2004 (Heisei 16): Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award at the National Food Sanitation Conference
- 2009 (Heisei 21): Umetzuru received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 61st National Kamaboko Competition
- 2015 (Heisei 27): President Junsei Uemura certified as a "Manufacturing Meister" in the surimi product field by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare