This Japanese fine porcelain and tableware company was established in 1913 by Kenkichi Ohno, a porcelain designer and manufacturer from Nagoya, Japan. During its peak, Narumi China became the largest porcelain manufacturer in Japan, and even made porcelain for Japanese Emperor 昭和天皇 Hirohito.
Narumi China exported most of its products to the United States and Europe, but is is relatively unknown in Japan. This is because during the period of high growth (between the 1930s and 1970s), the focus was on exports and most products bypassed the Japanese market entirely.
During World War II, Narumi switched its production from fine china to more utilitarian pieces, such as electrical insulators, and rice bowls to support efforts for the Second World War. When the war ended in 1945, Narumi resumed production of fine china and tableware, and expanded its product line even further.
In the late 1970s, the Japanese yen rapidly appreciated in value, which made Japanese exports relatively more expensive. This sudden change impacted many ceramics manufacturers in Japan, including Narumi China. Despite their best efforts, Narumi continued to struggle financially and was subsequently acquired by Noritake in 2002.
Today, Narumi China is a subsidiary of Noritake, and continues to produce fine porcelain and tableware.
