Two Hundred Years of Memory, Over a Decade of Silence
We are faced with the giant linden trees that have lived with unwavering dedication for 200 years in the harsh yet beautiful northern landscape. Once felled, the logs are set aside in a corner of the atlier, where they slowly and quietly slumber for over a decade.
The artisan spends this long period of dialogue, allowing the wind to pass through with the changing seasons and calming the tree’s breath. This is the indispensable ritual for transforming a sturdy, massive tree into a flawless work of art that fits comfortably in the hand.
A single sculptural work in the shape of a bag
There are no pre-prepared blueprints or molds for KINOKABAN. The moment the artisan sets the chisel into the log, they gently listen to the presence of the wood’s grain emerging from within and the shimmering fluctuations of its lustrous grain patterns. Without resisting the wood’s will, the artisan carves out—as if cherishing it—the organic curves that the wood itself desires to take, guided by the tip of the chisel as he feels his way.
The result is a beautiful three-dimensional form that no machine could ever create. It is not merely a bag as a tool, but a “sculpture in the shape of a bag” that is one of a kind in the world. At the same time, KINOKABAN is also “wearable art”—art you can wear.
The Invisible Warmth Emitted by the Japanese Linden Tree
When people first hold a KINOKABAN, many squint their eyes in surprise, remarking, “It’s surprisingly gentle and warm.” This is the unique vitality of the Japanese linden tree—a wood that, while possessing dense and sturdy fibers, somehow embodies a softness reminiscent of human skin. The wood absorbs the time you spend together, the light, and the warmth of your hands, continuing to transform into an even deeper, lustrous amber hue.
KINOKABAN will blend into your daily life and grow into a beauty all its own—carrying two hundred years of nature’s memories with you into your days ahead. Please enjoy the beginning of this quiet, luxurious romance.
The body of the bag is made of linden (Japanese linden,Tilia japonica), a tree endemic to Japan. Linden is characterized by its beautiful white grain and has long been used for building materials and crafts because it is soft and easy to process. Common linden tree (Tilia x europaea), also known as lindenbaum, is used as a raw material for musical instruments, herbs, and honey. In the production of our wooden bags, linden trees grown in the virgin forests of Hokkaido, which are over 150 years old, are purchased in their raw state and sawn to produce the most beautiful grain.
The sawn linden boards are slowly dried in a warehouse in the Yatsugatake Atelier for about 10 years to allow them time to settle and become suitable for bags.
There is no fixed number of bags produced from a single piece of wood. In order to avoid waste, each piece of wood is carefully "cut" considering the characteristics of its grain and knots. Inspired by the shapes created by nature, we create unique wooden bags by "designing for the tree" that thoroughly uses up every inch of the wood without wasting anything.
Various lacquering techniques are used. These include the use of urushi lacquer, which is a traditional Japanese coating material, and a wipe lacquer finish using raw urushi, black urushi, etc., to bring out the grain of the wood and apply multiple layers of coating.
In addition to urushi lacquer, the wood may also be dyed and then coated with urethane resin paint. In either case, they are water-resistant enough for daily use, so you can go out in the rain without worrying.
A wide variety of designs and colors are available, including gradation, two-tone, and dot patterns. Each piece has a completely different look depending on the type of lacquer, the combination of dyes, seasonal differences in temperature and humidity, and the inspiration of the artist.
In pursuit of both strength as a bag and lightness to carry, it is finished three-dimensionally while maintaining a certain degree of thickness.
Not only the outside but also the inside of the bag is finely carved and finished. Some designs has a further engraved surface to express its unique texture. Some designs are completely untouched to match the original wood grain. In their finished state, they weigh approximately 300 to 600 grams.
The bottom of the bags is carved with a pattern to prevent slipping and reduce weight, another surprise when you see it.
The closure of a wooden bag is structured like a dial, which opens up and down by twisting it left and right. The closure is easy to open and close, with no loosening or coming off, and has both ease of use and design.
The closures are made of hardwood branches such as kumquats and kokutan, as well as other materials available at the time. Since the KINOKABAN was founded in 1990, more than 30 different materials have been used to create various designs, which were completed after many trials and errors. Some are decorated with glass beads, mother-of-pearl inlay, shrunken lacquer inlay, and engravings.
樹の鞄 KINOKABAN®︎
5993-1 Yato, Oizumi-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi 409-1502, Japan
info@kinokaban.com
+81-551-38-2741
Visit our Yatsugatake Atelier to experience the natural warmth and beauty of wood firsthand. Discover exclusive wooden bags and artworks made from rare woods in a relaxed, private setting. We welcome one group per day—please reserve your preferred date via our inquiry form or email.
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