Komanogu – Shop for Kurashiki Canvas and other Japanese folk crafts
Category: Goods Japanese culture Regions of Japan Sightseeing
Osaka, Japan, and especially the area around Hommachi Station is a business district with many buildings.
The area called “Kyomachibori(京町堀)” located in one corner of that business district, has fashionable stores and cafes that you will never get tired of strolling around.
Walking along Kyomachibori…I found a nice store on the second floor of a building!
“Komanogu(こまのぐ)” is a store dealing in Japanese folk crafts and plants.
It is a very nice store and I bought a bag for myself!
The store gave us permission to post it on our blog, so in this blog we will show you the charm of Komanogu!
The store is filled with the sound of craftsmen’s sewing machines. Preserving Japan’s traditional techniques for future generations
The store is on the 2nd floor of the building.
It is marked by a sign that reads “こまのぐ(Komanogu)”.
As I climbed the stairs and entered the store…I was surprised! I could hear the sound of a sewing machine.
They have sewing craftsmen in the store. And many of them are young.
I have an image that Japanese fabric products are usually made in sewing factories in rural areas or are made overseas. So I was surprised to see craftsmen doing their handiwork in a building in the city of Osaka.
“About 14.5 years ago, I thought Japanese sewing techniques were in decline.” said the owner of Komanogu.
“We have people in their 70s and 80s still stepping on sewing machines and working hard in the field. The generation below them has almost disappeared. If things continue as they are, Japanese sewing techniques will definitely disappear. That’s why I felt we had to preserve the tradition ourselves.”
I see that your insistence on in-house manufacturing was motivated by your desire to “preserve traditional Japanese technology”.
Durable and lightweight, the more you use it, the more it develops its own texture! The charm of Kurashiki Canvas
The fabric products handled by Komanogu are made of “Kurashiki Canvas”.
A brand series called “V.D.L.C.”.
Kurashiki is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is a town where cotton cultivation and yarn twisting techniques thrive, and is a major production center for made in Japan canvas!
Canvas has an image of being hard and heavy, but V.D.L.C.’s canvas, woven by a unique method, is characterized by being light and strong.
I held the bag myself, and it is just so light!
When I touched it, it also has a somewhat soft texture.
Incidentally, the more they are used, the more beautiful their color and texture become.
Some people say, “I prefer a bag that has been used for several years to a new bag!”.
Kurashiki Canvas is made using a traditional “shuttle machine”.
It has a tradition of more than 100 years, and weaving on a shuttle machine gives Kurashiki Canvas its unique volume.
“It’s hard to put into words, but Kurashiki Canvas has a different texture to the touch compared to other fabric products.
“
The owner says.
“Some of our customers have been using Kurashiki Canvas bags for more than 10 years. The more you use it, the more the impression of the cloth changes – the longer you use it, the more it becomes your own one-of-a-kind item.”
Komanogu also offers a service to re-dye Kurashiki Canvas products at the store.
By dyeing the bag anew, it is possible to hide the fading that occurs over time as the bag is used and the stains that cannot be removed by washing, allowing the bag to be used longer.
I asked him to recommend products from the Kurashiki Canvas “V.D.L.C.” series of bags!
(1) Boat-shaped tote bag
This tote bag has a simple shape and is easy to use. It comes in three different sizes, so it can be used for different purposes.
Click here for online store page
(2) Work Backpack
This unique backpack is based on a Scandinavian military bag. It has adjustable shoulder straps and snap buttons to change the fastening position, allowing you to freely adjust it according to the amount of luggage you have.
Click here for online store page
(3) Newspaper bag
The motif is based on the bags of newspaper distributors in Europe and the United States. The shoulder strap is thick and very stable.
It is lightweight and sturdy, while still being able to hold a large volume. It is perfect for walking around town.
Click here for online store page
A wide variety of colors. The color variation is somewhat Japanese in feel.
This newsprint bag is so cute, I bought one too!
Functional Beauty – Sophisticated beauty unique to made in Japan
Komanogu’s store is also filled with other folk art items.
What is the appeal of Japanese folk crafts and made in Japan? I asked the store owner.
“I believe that “made in JAPAN” has “consideration for others” at its core. For example, “Onta-yaki pottery,” a well-known Japanese folk art, has a history of 400 years, but it has been passed down through the generations with the aim of making “daily-use items” that are easy to use. We want people to use daily-use items for a long time – the pottery is made with the intention of being close to the user, rather than using the brand name to sell the product.”
“I believe that “made in JAPAN” has “consideration for others” at its core. For example, “Onta-yaki pottery,” a well-known Japanese folk art, has a history of 400 years, but it has been passed down through the generations with the aim of making “daily-use items” that are easy to use. We want people to use daily-use items for a long time – the pottery is made with the intention of being close to the user, rather than using the brand name to sell the product.”
In Japan, there is a word “Monodukuri(ものづくり)”.
In Japanese, it means “the act of making something”. It includes not only technical skills and know-how, but also the spirit and attitude toward making things.
It is often said that “made in Japan” products are “reliable in quality” and “meticulous in attention to detail,” and this is a reputation that is created by the Japanese attitude toward product creation (Monodukuri)!
Easy to get to from the train! If you come to Osaka, please visit Komanogu!
“Overseas customers, especially from Asia, have a great deal of trust in made in Japan manufacturing. Every month, several items are purchased from our online store by overseas customers. And yes, some of them come to our store while they are on a trip.”
The owner said.
It is a 10-minute walk from the station and very accessible.
Please feel free to drop by and visit our store.
Komanogu, a store of cloth, pottery and plants
Address: Aiko Building 2F, 1-12-11 Kyomachibori, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0003, Japan (Google map)
10 minute walk from Hommachi Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line (nearest exit 28)
10 minutes walk from Higobashi Station on the Yotsubashi Line (nearest exit #11)
Business hours: 11:00-18:30 (until 17:30 on Saturdays and holidays)
Closed: Sunday and Monday *Special holidays are available
