An emblem of your family ties, custom crafted in silver

Ryogoku is imbued with Japan's history and traditional culture. The sumo wrestlers who are out and about here, sumo itself, the Sumo Arena (Ryogoku Kokugikan), the Edo-Tokyo Museum, and the Sumida Hokusai Museum all call it home. Here, too, is Mamegin-ya, a shop that creates bespoke silver accessories.

The shop custom designs each piece: the octagonal "fighting tags" are the most popular type. The accessory, and its name, derive from Edo's all-important firemen, who wore "firefighter tags" around their necks, bearing their names and affiliations. Later, when people hoisting festival shrines began sporting wooden tags inscribed with their names, they dubbed them "kenka-fuda," or "fighting tags." Mamegin-ya crafts each one-of-a-kind piece from pure silver, for an unmistakable dignity.

Each item is designed and handcrafted from scratch: delivery takes about four weeks. Often people from overseas who have Japanese roots want something to symbolize their family or embody family memories — "pendants with the crest inscribed on the family gravestones," or "a design with the name of my Japanese grandmother, who lives in England"; a Japanese man with an Australian wife "wanted his Japanese surname made into a pendant that he and his children could wear."

Come to Mamegin-ya for a symbol of your family that the whole family can wear. Or for a one-of-a-kind piece to commemorate your stay in Japan.

Mamegin straps, with prayers for a "prosperous business," a "flood of customers," and "well-being of the family" (¥14,300).

Family-crest cuff links (¥64,350).