Chests of drawers were first made around Japan during the late Edo period (18th to 19th century). In the Meiji period their production grew dramatically in many parts of Japan, bringing about locally characteristic chests of drawers, including Yonezawa Tansu. Many of these are Isho-tansu (dressers), which can be separated into upper and lower parts, probably because Yonezawa produces a large number of textiles. There are other kind of cabinets such as red lacquered Kaidan-tansu (stepped chests of drawers) which are placed in a triangular space underneath stairs and said to invite happiness, and the unique Yonezawa Karato Tansu which features wheels.

Presently, only Nagai Kaguten, a furniture shop which was opened in 1912, makes Yonezawa-tansu. Strictly selected raw materials such as zelkova and paulownia trees are used, first being fully dried and then lacquered and decorated with metal. In addition to Yonezawa Tansu, they produce various other types of furniture such as Wa-chatansu (a cabinet for storing tea-making utensils) made from Kuro-gaki (black persimmon tree, which is a black striped high-grade material). They employ neither composite nor synthetic woods, but strictly pure woods and hand-made techniques.