In 1965, Kunio Tsuchiya had an idea: to create a functional bag that can withstand daily wear and tear and last users a lifetime. Influenced by a Dutch military bag that first came to fruition in the late 1800’s, Tsuchiya carefully crafted what he branded Tsuchiya Kaban and released the “Randoseru”, the company’s first leather backpack that kickstarted decades worth of durable craftsmanship. 

In Japan, the Randoseru has become a staple piece. Popularized by students, the backpack sticks with them for much of their academic career, ensuring a mix of quality, minimalism, and high fashion with every wear.

Tsuchiya Kaban implements a minimalistic style that is unique to Japanese culture, in addition to standing firm in craftsmanship and creativity. Each product is constructed by hand, stitching together over 150 pieces in 300 steps with great effort and intentional care.

Blending functionality and Japanese aesthetics, the brand is able to use high-quality leather to create iconic yet timeless silhouettes that endure both wear and persevere through ever-changing fashion trends.

High Fashion, High Quality

The company has since participated in different campaigns and partnerships that showcase its uniqueness, separating them from other brands. In 2020, Tsuchiya Kaban launched their campaign, The Fun of Carrying, that exhibited designers’ creative talents, allowing them to create fun, playful bags for a wide variety of items, like wineglasses, watermelons, and snowmen. The campaign allowed designers to not only showcase their excellence in leather craft, but to be able to dream, empowering them to bring to life what lives inside their imaginations and experiment with what they have already mastered.

Additionally, in 2022, the brand partnered with Bolt Threads, the company that produces Mylo, a leather alternative made from mushrooms rather than cow hide, showcasing their commitment to sustainability. The partnership has allowed both brands to expand their knowledge of leather craftsmanship, product manufacturing, and durability.

Since its initial success, Tsuchiya Kaban has expanded, releasing more than 150 different styles, including leather crossbody and tote bags, and has opened 22 flagship stores in Japan, three in Taiwan, and one in Hong Kong. Each store has a completely different look, yet each one is intentionally designed to aesthetically match the different region’s community and exhibit the brand’s expertise in artistry and craft.

Tsuchiya Kaban was exclusive to Asia until 2021, when the company opened its first global distribution. But for one weekend, the brand will make its first appearance in the United States at their very own gallery pop-up in Portland.

For decades, Portland and Japan have instilled a mutual admiration for each other when it comes to craft and maker goods. With nearly 5,000 miles sitting between them, many Portland-based brands have found their way to cities like Osaka and Niigata, while notable Japanese brands similarly made their way to the other side of the Pacific, making Japan one of Oregon’s top trading partners.

With more than 27 sister cities scattered throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, the relationship between the two has only gotten stronger. Consul General Masaki Shiga, representative of the government of Japan in Oregon, even thinks so: “The relationship between Japan and Oregon has become more and more prosperous in the more than 100 years of history together.” Out of the 15 brand ambassadors, nine of them are rooted in Portland, including Richard Le, founder of Matta, the beloved Vietnamese food truck; Heather and Jonathan Sielaff, owners of OLO Fragrance; Thomas Lauderdale, bandleader of Pink Martini; and many other iconic Portland staples.

Tsuchiya Kaban’s two-day exhibition will take place on November 18th and 19^th at OLO Fragrance. The pop-up will showcase different products, sharing their unique artisanal techniques, creativity, and story with the Western world. 

The gallery will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with an exhibition of The Fun of Carrying project, an artist series of hand-painted bags, and a handful of products available for purchase.  This is your chance to interact and appreciate the craftsmanship of Japan’s finest leather goods.