A Century of Canvas
The Spirit of Kyoto in Every Stitch－Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu
From Humble Beginnings to a Kyoto Icon
The origins of Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu trace back to founder Kihee Ichizawa, who began sewing cutter shirts and small tool bags with a hand-operated sewing machine. His son, Tsunejiro, laid the foundation of the company by producing sturdy canvas bags. Later, the third generation, Nobuo, expanded the reach of the brand with climbing packs and tents, making the name Ichizawa Hanpu well-known across Japan and popularizing canvas bags among young people and tourists.
Today, under Shinzaburo Ichizawa, the workshop continues to honor tradition while introducing fresh designs and ideas, ensuring that the brand’s DNA lives on. Now known as Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu, the company has remained loyal to its roots. In their Higashiyama workshop, the sound of sewing machines and wooden mallets fills the air as craftsmen carefully assemble each piece. Unlike many modern manufacturers, they work without subcontractors, producing everything in-house and selling directly to customers.
This face-to-face business style—where makers feel directly connected to the people who carry their bags—has remained unchanged for over a century.
A Commitment to Craft
At the heart of Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu’s philosophy is a sincere dedication to making things well. Every bag is made from specially woven canvas, dyed to rich colors, waterproofed, and assembled with custom-ordered threads and fittings. Even today, vintage Singer sewing machines from before the war are still in daily use.
Each bag is made by a team of two: a senior craftsman on the sewing machine and a junior shitashoku, who marks the fabric, attaches fittings, and assists with details.
It can take seven or eight years of training before an apprentice becomes skilled enough to operate the sewing machines independently. This careful passing down of knowledge ensures that the quality of each bag never wavers.
Unlike mass production, their process is slow and meticulous—but that’s precisely why the bags last for decades. For the artisans, it is not simply work; it is a matter of responsibility and joy. Without manuals to follow, they rely on their own ingenuity and creativity, ensuring each bag carries a personal touch.
Why They Are Special
Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu has always believed in making bags that are simple, functional, and enduring. Their philosophy is distilled into six guiding principles: durability, longevity, simplicity, usability, timelessness, and a touch of character. They design everything themselves—from the bags to the fittings, patterns, catalogs, and even the matching T-shirts worn by staff.
Customers are often part of the design process, as their feedback and requests inspire new ideas. Once a month, the workshop holds a “prototype day,” where anyone—from senior craftsmen to young staff—can present their concepts. New designs are tested repeatedly, worn by people of different ages and lifestyles, until the details are refined.
Sometimes it takes several years before a new product is released. If the team isn’t fully satisfied, they simply wait—because for them, quality is always more important than quantity. This openness, combined with a refusal to compromise, is what makes Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu so distinctive. Their bags are not fashion trends, but companions for everyday life, aging gracefully alongside their owners.
Celebrating 120 Years: Special Items and Projects
Marking their 120th anniversary, the company has embraced the slogan “120 Years of Good Things.” To express gratitude to their loyal customers, they have planned a year of special events and products. One highlight is the introduction of a new color, “Asagi,” released for the first time in nearly 20 years. This vivid blue-green shade, also called emerald green, gives a fresh look to their classic designs.
All Asagi items feature the red-bordered “Ichizawa Hanpu-sei” (Made by Ichizawa Hanpu) label and carry a commemorative 120th anniversary logo.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship and Community
Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu is more than a bag manufacturer—it is a living symbol of Kyoto’s dedication to craftsmanship. For 120 years, their canvas bags have carried not just belongings, but also the values of durability, simplicity, and sincerity.
For travelers seeking a meaningful souvenir from Kyoto, a bag from Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu is more than a purchase—it is an investment in tradition, quality, and the spirit of the city itself. Whether you choose a nostalgic design, a fresh Asagi-colored piece, or one of their classic staples, you’ll be taking home not just a bag, but a story woven from over a century of dedication.
Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu
Open: 10:00–18:00
Closed Tues; 602 Takabatake-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
www.ichizawa.co.jp/en