Located in Gongguan Township, Miaoli County, Shimenawa Co. Ltd. (formerly Yung Cheng Co. Ltd.) started producing these braided rice straw ropes back in 1991. Shimenawa are very popular in Japan, often decorated with shide, zigzag-shaped white paper banners. They can be seen in Shinto shrines, torii gates, sacred landmarks and outside homes in an effort to ward off evil spirits.
Unlike other straw-weaved products that can be mass-produced by machine, shimenawa are 100-percent handmade, demanding great skill and an enormous amount of hard work. Taiwan began exporting its locally produced version to Japan in the late 1980s, with most of these ropes produced in either small factories or in a cottage industry setting.
Following the demise of Taiwan's traditional industries, local shimenawa factories were either forced out of business or relocated to Southeast Asia or mainland China where labor costs were only a fraction of those in Taiwan. There are still several factories that make straw-weaved products here, "But we are the last surviving shimenawa factory in Taiwan," said Tsai Pei-wen, who at the age of 25 succeeded her mother as head of the company in February.
At first, Tsai thought that the company had no future and that the whole operation was simply too labor intensive. But being that it was a family business, she decided to leave her job at the bank and take over the reins. "I really wanted to help my mother," Tsai said. "I have seen her working so hard in this business ever since I was a child. I think her passion for rice-straw weaving must have gotten to me."
The company experienced a crisis three years ago, when orders from Japan dropped nearly 60 percent. "It was really hard at that time, because it was very difficult to get a bank loan given the profit margin of the business," Tsai said. She explained that given the limited scope of its operation, Shimenawa had never enjoyed regular periods of profitability.
But thanks to the company's reputation and its products, which are renowned for their quality and consistency, the firm has managed to export 10 containers of shimenawa to Japan since then. According to Tsai, the company has not been able to raise prices for nearly 20 years because of fierce competition. In order to survive, it has had to undertake a transformation.
With a capital investment of US$150,000, the company now has 10 full-time employees working onsite and over 100 contract workers making the ropes at home--mostly housewives seeking additional income to meet family expenses. "My mother had thought about moving the factory to Vietnam. But these workers are one of the reasons why we are still here, because part of their living depends on us. Some of them are so-called 'foreign brides' for whom it is very difficult to find a full-time job," Tsai explained.
While orders from Japan are increasing steadily, Tsai is also taking aim at the domestic market. Since becoming head of the company, she has formulated several marketing plans for the business. Tsai is also working with the local government to promote the factory as a tourist site, where visitors can learn to design and make their own shimenawa for a fee. The company also offers do-it-yourself tutorials and workshops at local communities in the neighboring Tongsiao and Yuanli townships. These programs are very well received, because participants who have learned the skill can become contract workers for the firm.
Since shimenawa carries a spiritual implication, the company has launched several new designs that combine the ropes with ceramic and porcelain artifacts, as well as figurines of traditional Chinese gods that are popular in Taiwan. "I am thinking about creating more household items and decorations that use rice-straw weaving," said Tsai, who is constantly challenging herself to come up with more innovative ideas.
After struggling for nearly two decades, things are starting to look up for Shimenawa as business from Japan increased 20 percent this year and revenues expected to hit US$360,000. "Some Japanese customers are not satisfied with the way [mainland] China and Vietnam conduct business and are transferring these orders to us," said Tsai.
When asked about the future of the company, Tsai responded, " I am quite optimistic, and actually, I am thinking about expanding our production capacity. The Japanese market will always be there, and given our business reputation, I expect to see more orders pouring in," she added. "The domestic market also holds great potential and I have many new ideas in the pipeline."
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw