The Untold Story of Tsuchiya Kaban: Vol.3

In the early 2000s, Tsuchiya Kaban expanded beyond Randoseru to craft leather bags and accessories. Together with a new team of in-house designers, we were entering a phase of growth—guided by our expanding vision and a desire to share our deepening craftsmanship with the world.

In October 2004, we opened our first retail store far from our Tokyo workshop, in the distant city of Kamakura; a place we were drawn to for a certain enchanting quality. Beyond its historic cityscape, the city was alive with artisans and traditional Japanese crafts.

The space we chose was a former bean shop in the shopping district. Though the building was rich with unique charm, creating a storefront was a trial of firsts—from interior design, display planning, and inventory management, to building relationships with neighboring shops. Piece by piece, we created a space where customers could experience our products as well as the Tsuchiya Kaban world for themselves.

Keep your eyes open for interior design elements from late Kamakura period temple architecture(13th century). The walls are traditional Japanese plaster, which develops a rich patina over time—just like our leather bags.

Tetsuo Akahori, tasked as the brand's very first store manager, spent two weeks in intensive training at the workshop to gain a deep understanding of the craft, the artisan community, and the details behind each piece.

Creating a store that represented the brand accurately was a cascade of trial and error—but surprisingly, the most challenging aspect was building relationships with the local community. "We were newcomers from Tokyo, inserting ourselves into a historic local shopping district,” shares Akahori. “Understandably, we were sometimes viewed with suspicion at first. We worked very hard to gain trust by integrating ourselves into the community in meaningful ways."

Since few local people knew the brand back then, we tried various creative approaches to bring customers in—from offering leathercraft workshops to holding product exhibitions and demonstrations. Locals began casually dropping by in flip-flops and wandering in as they shopped around. There was a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere particular to the coastal city of Kamakura, which allowed us to feel at home and connect with each person that visited our space. To this day, these individual interactions continue to be at the core of how we connect with our customers.

Following our success in Kamakura, the company continued opening stores—each presenting new challenges and lessons. In those early days, there was no customer service manual, no uniform, no established protocol. Store Operations Manager Sakai recalls that discovering each store's unique identity while preserving the core Tsuchiya Kaban spirit was a process that unfolded one day at a time.

The Marunouchi store, located within a commercial facility in central Tokyo, operated at a completely different rhythm. Customers arrived with specific purchases in mind rather than leisurely browsing, which required a more rigorous, high-paced approach. Meanwhile, the Nishiarai Main Store, adjacent to the original workshop, presented different pressures. As the flagship location, it needed to fulfill heightened expectations while providing an integrated experience—showcasing products alongside live artisanship.

Yet as we expanded, one principle remained constant: our storefronts weren't just places to sell products, but spaces to connect with customers by sharing the distinct stories behind each piece. Our staff don't simply highlight features—they convey the craft, the intention, the origins of materials, guiding you through a meaningful process of finding leather companions that enrich your particular lifestyle.