Ichiren
The Sakura Okamochi Bag – Nostalgic Yet New
The Sakura Okamochi Bag, born in 2021 in Kagawa Prefecture, features handles made from wild cherry wood harvested through public forestry projects within the region.
It is an upcycled product, crafted from wood that would otherwise be excluded from high-end furniture manufacturing, reimagined into a fresh and sustainable style.
With its one-of-a-kind and charming design, the Sakura Okamochi Bag has been widely praised for "lifting spirits" and "bringing joy" to daily life. The surface of the cherry wood is both delicate and elegant, while also offering excellent durability, allowing users to appreciate the graceful changes that occur over time with continued use.
The Sakura Okamochi Bag draws inspiration from the okamochi — a historic traditional carrying box used since around the 1600s. Even upon first sight, it evokes a sense of nostalgia. Perfectly capturing the essence of "new retro," this bag embodies a rich cultural heritage unique to Japan.
Ichiren Co., Ltd. was founded in September 2014 in Kagawa Prefecture. Although Kagawa is nationally renowned for Sanuki Udon, it is also a major center of glove production, holding a 90% share of Japan’s domestic market.
Glove production in the region dates back to 1888 in the Meiji era and has flourished as a local industry to this day, making the area's expertise in glove-making unparalleled.
Our CEO, Toshifumi Kamakura, has 21 years of experience in planning and sales at a long-established local glove manufacturer founded in 1920.
Building on this foundation, he continues to challenge himself daily in planning, manufacturing, and marketing new products that leverage advanced, specialized techniques.
Ichiren Co., Ltd. is dedicated to "creating new value" by utilizing the highest level of glove-making craftsmanship and incorporating local resources into its manufacturing.
Because gloves involve the most complex joints in the human body, specialized craftsmanship techniques have developed — techniques distinct from those used in the creation of ordinary accessories.
These include extreme precision in seam allowances, the use of different sewing machines for layered fabrics, and selecting the finest needles to minimize fabric damage.
Such knowledge, cultivated over many years of glove manufacturing, combined with the region’s unique industrial culture, fuels our ongoing innovation.
The Sakura Okamochi Bag is truly a product born from this rich history and craftsmanship. We hope you will enjoy and cherish the Sakura Okamochi Bag as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Sanuki City, where our company is located, faces the Seto Inland Sea, often praised as the "Jewel of the World" for its stunning island landscapes. It is also home to the last three temples (Agari Sanga-ji) of the sacred Shikoku Pilgrimage, which recently celebrated its 1,200th anniversary.
These temples are:
• Temple 86: Shido-ji
• Temple 87: Nagao-ji
• Temple 88: Okubo-ji (the final temple to complete the pilgrimage)
Today, many pilgrims from across Japan and abroad visit this area, with some choosing to walk only this final "healing" section of the pilgrimage, known as the "Road to Completion and Healing," which covers 24 kilometers.
This region is steeped in the spirit of osettai — heartfelt hospitality extended to pilgrims — a tradition that has endured through the ages. We invite you to experience this path, rich with history, culture, and kindness.
• 2023 Omotenashi Selection Award
• 2023 Good Design Award