Shoeki originally made armor as did his ancestors, but it is said that his turning point came when SEN no Rikyu commissioned and instructed him to make a tea kettle whereby Shoeki started tea utensil making which has become the Nakagawa family's business.
元は先祖と同じく武具を製作するが、千利休の依頼・指導により薬鑵（やかん）を作ったのを契機に、現在の家業である茶道具作りを始めたとされる。