Some of the toughest bags to be found in Tokyo come from Hosono, a storied local manufacturer famed among outdoorsy types for supplying gear to Antarctic explorers. Operating from a sole shop in Nihonbashi, Hosono is run by a descendant of the man who established the company in nearby Kanda way back in 1912. Hosono products, which are designed to last a long time, owe their durability to the use of ‘sail cloth’, a heavy-duty, paraffin-treated fabric used for boat sails, combined with a manufacturing process largely done by hand.
These bags are surprisingly affordable, with rucksacks priced from ¥16,500. Colour options are extensive: most items are available in a choice of 18 hues that includes lavender and a ‘wasabi green’, as well as the more typical military olive and sand shades. The Hosono workshop is adjacent to the store, and customers are invited to pop in and take a look.