The Glimmer of Shōwa

Hokuriku Aluminium 北陸アルミニウム

Hokuriku Aluminium1b

令和都來了,我感覺還是活在平成裡,不過說到最懷念的,還當屬於昭和的時光。起源在日本富山縣高岡市,開業於昭和5年(1930年)的「北陸鋁業」(北陸アルミニウム),至今有接近百年歷史,其製作的雪平鍋和平底鍋,是日本家庭和餐廳愛用的廚具,稱他們為「國民級鍋具」實在也當之無愧。

經營近百年,北陸鋁業自豪於其職人的鑄鍋巧藝,以及陽極氧化的處理技術。而在眾多的商品之中,最有代表性的大概就是這個「昭和復古金色廚具系列」。這個系列採用復古的金色陽極氧化加工,帶來滿滿昭和況味之餘,也是專屬於日本的獨有工藝,能帶來3倍於一般做法的耐蝕性,1.5倍的耐蝕性,使用時也不容易變形掉色,想傳給下一代人也沒有問題。

在整個系列裡,最令我愛不惜手的還是這一隻「昭和復古金色雪平鍋」。發明在平安時代的雪平鍋,其獨有的槌目紋已經令人傾心,這隻還特意用上了金色陽極氧化加工,為雪花般的紋路灑上金色;而尤其是在雪平鍋被陽光照射時,反映出的溫柔光線,就像看到了從小時候媽媽在使用的廚具,心裡自然地感到了平靜。

It seems like the Reiwa era hasn’t kicked in yet, nostalgia certainly makes it feels like we are still in the Heisei era. Speaking of the olden days, the Shōwa era was a remarkable gem in history. Hokuriku Aluminium (北陸アルミニウム) opened its doors in the year Shōwa 5 (1930) in Takaoka, Toyama, Japan. With almost 100 years of pot making experience, the brand is well loved at the national level, being a staple in every Japanese home and restaurant.

Having operated for nearly 100 years, Hokuriku Aluminium prides itself on its meticulous craftsmanship and anodizing technique. The Shōwa Retro Gold Series is the most iconic of all. Not only does the retro gold anodization remind us of the Shōwa era, the series is also the epitome of Japanese craftsmanship. With the coating being 3 times more corrosion resistant – lasting 1.6 times longer than normal pots – these pots are definitely made to be passed down for generations.

My favourite is this snow pot from the Shōwa Retro Gold Series. Snow pot was invented in the Heian period, hammered into shape giving it a charming mallet pattern. The retro gold anodization gives the snowflake pattern a shining hue, reflecting a sense of warmth especially when sunlight hits, just like the sense of comfort when you were glancing up at mom cooking in the kitchen.

w