Koshu Inden is characterized by deerskin with a pattern made with lacquer, and a variety of products are made using this leather. Deerskin, one of the characteristics of Koshu Inden, has been widely used for armors because of its comfort and strength.
During the Warring States Period, armor and helmets made with the fusube and sara (chintz) techniques adorned the warriors. Deerskin, which is soft, strong, and light with a lacquer pattern, becomes more comfortable in the hand as it is used, and the more you use it, the more you become attached to it.
The more time passes, the brighter the color of the lacquer becomes, and the deeper and more subdued its luster becomes.
Kofu City is located in the center of Yamanashi Prefecture and has an elongated shape. The flat land between the mountains to the north and south is called the Kofu Basin.
The city is located in the center of the Kofu Basin, with the Arakawa River flowing through the city, and is blessed with abundant nature such as the Mitake Shosenkyo Gorge and the Ashigawa Valley.
Kofu is also one of the most famous tourist destinations in Japan, with a long history of warlords such as Shingen Takeda and many other famous places of interest related to them.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Koushu Inden”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.
According to the Chronicles of Japan, deerskin crafts were introduced to Japan in the 6th year of the reign of Emperor Ningen (493 AD) by leather workers from the Goryeo Dynasty. At that time, people used to draw pictures on the dyes made from purple grass roots or dyed with the juice of red bellflower roots, or used woodblocks to mark patterns and apply coloring. It seems that there was also a technique of coloring with the smoke of smoked pine needles and other materials. In the 900s, samurai began to use this technique for armor and headgear, and the variety of patterns increased, including kozakura (small cherry blossoms), shobu (Japanese iris), and hishi (water chestnuts). After the Onin War (1467), reflecting the turbulent times, the military was the focus, and leather craftsmen prospered greatly.
In 1521, Takeda Shingen was born, and this marked the beginning of the history of Inden in Koshu. The bag called "Shingenbukuro" was large enough to hold all the armor of the time, and the sturdiness of deerskin leather was highly valued. In 1629, a foreigner who came to Japan in 1629 presented the Shogunate with decorated Indian leather, whose gorgeous colors stimulated the craftsmen to make a mock-up of the leather. Since there are references to "Inden" in "Kyo Haneju," a geographical journal of Kyoto published in 1685, and in "Tokaido Chu Hizakurige" (1802) by Jippensha Ikku, it is believed that Inden was manufactured in various regions during the Edo period. The origin of Koshu Inden is mentioned in "Koshu Kaimono Dokimono Guide" in 1854, and it is believed that the production area of Koshu Inden was established by the end of Edo period.
In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Shingenbukuro and Kinchu-bukuro were awarded a medal at the National Industrial Exposition, and became firmly established as Yamanashi's specialty products. In the Taisho period (1912-1926), handbags and other products were also produced, and the product line became diversified. In 1975, the Kofu Inden Merchant Association was established, and in 1987, it was recognized as a traditional Japanese craft.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Koushu Inden”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.