The Magic of Fabric Behind Beloved Costumes: The 97-Year History of Costume Fabric Specialist "Fujikake"

Nippori Textile Town is a bustling hub where countless people, from professionals to students, come seeking quality fabrics. The area has a reputation as a "mecca for clothing makers," offering fabrics often unavailable at chain retailers.

Among the many competing shops, "Fujikake" stands out. Since its founding, the company has specialized in providing unique and glamorous "costume fabrics" mainly for the stage, costume, and interior industries. As a long-standing manufacturer, they’ve introduced materials that enable creative expressions previously unseen in conventional textiles.

Supporting numerous creators through the years, what journey has Fujikake taken? We sat down with Chihiro Fujishima, President of Fujikake Co., Ltd., and General Manager Masami Nakamura, to find out.

97 Years since Founding: "Special Fabrics" that Began in Tawaramachi

The origins of Fujikake date back to 1928 (Showa 3).

In its early days, Fujikake launched as a textile trading company, gaining attention by dealing in then-rare imported fabrics and decorative materials for theaters. Later, as demand from the stage, film, and television industries increased, the company shifted toward developing proprietary, specially processed fabrics, cementing its standing as a materials manufacturer.

From the 1970s through the 1980s, the company set up its base in Tokyo's Tawaramachi district, earning a reputation as "the costume fabric specialist Fujikake" among professionals seeking materials for stage productions, events, and displays.

Having relocated from longtime home Tawaramachi, Fujikake now operates in Nippori Textile Town. But how do these two locations differ?

"The clientele and flow of people are quite different. Tawaramachi had more of a wholesale atmosphere, so I think it was a bit daunting for the general public to come in.

"Back then, most of our business was with companies. While we did sell to individual customers, we didn’t really advertise it. Nowadays, thanks to active outreach on social media, we've seen a rise in general customers." (Fujishima)

Fujikake has experienced big shifts in popular fabrics and trends with each era. Selling fabrics tailored to the needs of the period—that's truly the story of "Fujikake’s history."

"During Asakusa’s golden age, the Shochiku Kagekidan and cabaret culture were booming, and it was trendy to use lavish fabrics for interiors. Walls and sofas would be completely covered in cloth. Fujikake’s fabrics supported the glitz and glamour of that era.

"Asakusa was also a center for the performing arts, so many people came to Fujikake seeking materials for stage costumes and show dresses. They weren’t making just one outfit, but enough for entire teams of dancers or singers—imagine the amount of fabric it took.

"I joined Fujikake 34 years ago, and at that time, I was selling base materials for silk printing. It was the bubble economy, so business was booming." (Fujishima)

The sparkling fabrics of Fujikake really reflect the spirit of each era.

"We started handling costume fabrics over 20 years ago.

"After the economic bubble burst, things got tough for a bit, but we still had plenty of business with costume designers, so we decided to focus on costume fabrics.

"That was also when we began importing from overseas, and the types of products and our style gradually evolved." (Fujishima)

Fujikake, as a specialized trading company dealing in costume fabrics, has built a long-standing relationship with costume designers.

Costume designers are responsible for the outfits seen in movies, plays, TV shows, and more. A wide range of artists—idols, celebrities, singers, and even ballet performers—wear costumes crafted by these designers.

The costumes that move us in the entertainment world are created by costume designers, and Fujikake plays a vital role by supplying the essential fabrics.

Special fabrics that make countless stars shine—the origin of this business can, in fact, be traced back to the dazzling costumes of a female idol group that dominated pop culture in the late 1990s.

Those incredibly sparkling, radiant costumes were made with none other than Fujikake’s fabrics.

"We experienced several big turning points in the fabrics we handled, but the impact of those female idol groups in the late ‘90s was phenomenal. It wasn’t just professional designers—everyday customers were coming in, too. Every time a new song or unit was announced, the fabrics would sell instantly." (Fujishima)

Not only are fabrics from Fujikake used by certain idol groups, but they also create costumes for various 2.5D stage productions and theme parks. Recently, with the growing popularity of cosplayers, has this had any impact on Fujikake?

"Whenever there’s a press conference or new stage costume announced, more and more people come straight to us, asking, 'Where can I get this fabric?' Both professionals and amateurs now enjoy using our textiles with no boundaries in between." (Fujishima)

Fujikake truly supports Japan’s entertainment industry. They focus not only on fashion, but also keep entertainment trends in mind.

"We always pay attention to overall social trends. It's not just about simple fads—we incorporate the mood of the times and entertainment elements, too. Costume designers are very sensitive to trends, so we do our best to bring their ideas to life.

"That sensitivity isn’t born strictly in meetings—it also comes from talking with customers and catching trends in those conversations." (Fujishima)

Fujikake’s Vision for the Future of Nippori Textile Town

Across the street from Fujikake is their unique sister shop, "Furikake."

This store specializes in decorative parts essential for stage and cosplay costumes, and its name comes from the concept of "sprinkling toppings onto costumes." The staff personally source a dazzling selection of items from overseas, filling the sparkling space with excitement.

"Since we have a base in China, we can source items very quickly. We’re proud of our range of products." (Nakamura)

They’ve also launched "Fujikake Workshop" to support makers and creators.

"We offer services for transfer printing, laser cutting, embroidery machines, and garment printers that can print directly onto T-shirts. We hope these services can help in anyone’s creative projects." (Nakamura)

Fujikake spreads news and updates energetically through social media, acting as a trusted source for professionals and a welcoming space for anyone who loves to create. The magical fabrics filling the store are truly unique, only available at Fujikake.

"We're in an age where you can see anything online, but we really want people to visit our shop, see and touch the materials, and get inspiration directly from the fabrics themselves. Many designers who come to our store actually start forming their design ideas after visiting us. That real, tactile “sensation” is only going to become more important in the future." (Fujishima)

"If you’re searching for something new or interesting, start by dropping by Fujikake. If you ever run into trouble with your creative projects, feel free to ask us for help." (Nakamura)

Celebrating 97 years since its founding, Fujikake has been supporting Japan’s entertainment world with fabrics, and will continue to welcome everyone searching for that “magical piece” without changing their approach.

What Fujikake provides is far more than just cloth. It’s the power to give shape to someone’s dreams, the very “magic” supporting the scenes from behind the curtains.

As professionals of fabric, Fujikake will always be leading on the creative front lines.