News

Osaka-Gunze Limited (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan, President: Takahiro Oka) [TOKYO: 3002] is pleased to announce that Gunze is supporting the Third Ayabe Beetle Sumo Tournament in Ayabe City, Kyoto, which is where the company was founded and the “Gunze Museum” will serve as the venue.
Many of the beetles in the tournament were successfully bred outdoors by the NPO Satoyama Net Ayabe using wood and bamboo chips produced by the “Kyoto Model Forest Movement in Ayabe,” a Satoyama (traditional rural landscapes) conservation initiative that Gunze has conducted since 2010. The company is transforming the natural cycle, which began with the management of neglected bamboo groves, into a summer entertainment event where children take center stage. Gunze will promote this event as a cutting-edge local SDGs model that connects environmental conservation with the region's future.

The Second Ayabe Beetle Sumo Tournament held last year

■About the Third Ayabe Beetle Sumo Tournament

Date

July 20 (Mon.), 2026 09:00 - 15:00

Place

Match venue: Gunze Museum Tsudoi-Gura
Pubic viewing venue: Gunze Museum Mirai-Gura

Fee

Free of charge

Hosted by

Ayabe Beetle Sumo Tournament Executive Committee
(Local specialty store “Tokusankan”, Gunze Museum, Ayabe City Tourism Association, Ayabe City Tourism Exchange Division, Suigen no Sato Kanbara, NPO Satoyama Net Ayabe)

Cooperation

Society for the Protection of Obata Castle, Satomachi Reiwa-kai

Sponsor

Gunze Limited

The presentation of the championship trophy was held last year

■About Gunze and Gunze Museum
Gunze was founded in 1896 by Tsurukichi Hatano in Ikaruga Ward (now Ayabe City) to promote the local sericulture industry. The founder was determined to contribute to the development of his hometown by promoting the local silk industry. He believed this should be Ikaruga's policy, so he named his company Gunze Silk Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (later renamed Gunze Limited), where "Gunze" means "district policy" in Japanese. Today, Gunze is a leading designer and manufacturer of plastic films, engineering plastics, medical devices, apparel, and other products. Gunze employs more than 4,100 people in ten countries around the world.
The Gunze Museum was established in 1996 to celebrate Gunze's 100th anniversary. It was renovated from a silk cocoon storage facility used during the Taisho era.
The museum has three historic Kura-style exhibition halls that showcase Gunze's history. The Sogyō-Gura (Establishment), the Gendai-Gura (Present), and the Mirai-Gura (Future).
The museum also has a Tsudoi-Gura. "Tsudoi" means "gathering" in Japanese, and it's a great place for workshops, local events, seminars, and educational programs.