Toshio Nakata grew up in his father's store called the "Nakata Kaname Store" in Toyooka-shi, Hyogo Prefecture in 1917. By the time he took over the family business in 1946, he was inspired by a meeting with a woodworker to focus exclusively on hangers and start the company Nakata Kogei. Since then the company has been making the finest hangers in the world and is now the only remaining wooden hanger manufacturer in Japan. The skills used to create some of their designs, particularly those hangers made from a single block of wood, are so specialized that only one master craftsman knows how to make them. While other hangers may suffice for most, for those that desire the enjoyment and appreciation that comes with handling and owning a truly artisanal product, there is no other option than Nakata.