17/09/2026
This is how the Japanese build their brands, especially those long lasting ones with rich and solid cultural elements like this one.
Translation of the original post and credit to SUGOI JAPAN:
The Story of the Kyoto Artisan Brand "Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu"
The brand is renowned for its handcrafted canvas bags. Its founder, Kihyoe Ichizawa—born in 1853 (the year of the "Black Ships" arrival)—was a progressive thinker and a true modernist with a passion for novelty. He was a rare figure at the time, often seen wearing Western-style clothing and hats. Beyond opening a "Western-style laundry" (dry cleaning) service, he was an active member of the "Kyoto Band," playing instruments like the cornet and clarinet; in short, he had an immense love for all things imported from the West.
In 1905, Kihyoe Ichizawa founded "Ichizawa Hanpu" in Kyoto. Initially, he used a sewing machine to make sports shirts and small tool pouches. Later, his son, Tsunejiro Ichizawa, established canvas bags as the company's core product. He invested 400 yen—a significant sum at the time—in a sewing machine and dedicated himself to crafting canvas bags. He expanded the business and brand recognition by offering custom services to local shops and manufacturing outdoor gear such as mountaineering packs and tents, further boosting the brand's influence. The third-generation successor, Nobuo Ichizawa, built upon this foundation to successfully expand the customer base to include young people and tourists.
The fourth-generation successor, Shinzaburo Ichizawa (the third son), had worked alongside his father in the family business for over two decades. After his father passed away in 2001, Shinzaburo—who was set to take over the business in accordance with the original will—was suddenly sued by his eldest brother. Although the brother had never been involved in the shop's operations and worked at a bank, he produced a "new will" and took the matter to court. The court ultimately ruled the brother's new will valid, forcing Shinzaburo to lose both the "Ichizawa Hanpu" trademark and the original storefront.
However, Shinzaburo was not alone in this loss. More than 70 skilled artisans from the workshop, along with his uncle, shared his vision and management philosophy; they all decided to resign en masse and follow him as he struck out on his own. The Birth of Shinzaburo Hanpu: In 2006, Shinzaburo established "Shinzaburo Hanpu" and "Shinzaburo Bag" directly across the street from the original shop. The artisans who joined him brought with them authentic traditional skills and the soul of the craft; even material suppliers and long-standing local customers in Kyoto remained steadfast in their support, choosing to supply and back Shinzaburo exclusively.
This history of forced independence actually paved the way for new opportunities. While Ichizawa Hanpu had previously focused on solid colors, Shinzaburo began developing a wide range of patterns and incorporating linen fabrics and exclusive metal hardware, injecting fresh vitality into the brand. In 2009, Shinzaburo’s wife, Emi, filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of a will and ultimately won the case. In 2011, Shinzaburo reclaimed the original shop and consolidated the three major trademarks—"Ichizawa Hanpu," "Shinzaburo Hanpu," and "Shinzaburo Bag"—into one.
To this day, the shop uses antique sewing machines that are over 90 years old, with artisans stitching and assembling each bag stitch by painstaking stitch. Despite achieving international renown, Shinzaburo remains committed to the philosophy that "there is only one shop in the world, located in Kyoto." He believes that the brand's most precious legacy lies in having travelers visit Kyoto in person to experience the city's unique atmosphere and take home a durable, long-lasting canvas bag.
