Founded in 1582, INDEN-YA is one of the few remaining practitioners of traditional Japanese leatherworking. Over its 400-year history, the company has continuously evolved with the times—creating practical products that showcase meticulous craftsmanship alongside contemporary aesthetics.
“Inden” refers to deerskin leather decorated with patterns made of lacquer or other materials. Koshu Inden—inden developed in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture—was designated as a Traditional Craft Product in 1987. Today, INDEN-YA promotes inden culture through its range of stylish products, including wallets, coin purses, accessory items, and bags.
Discover more about this prestigious brand below.
The intertwined histories of inden and INDEN-YA
Japanese leatherworking, influenced by leather techniques from northeast Asia, became popularized in Japan between the fourth and fifth centuries. For many years afterwards, leatherworking was used to create decorative items, weapons, and armor for samurai—giving them a more impressive appearance.
During the tumultuous Sengoku period (15th and 16th centuries), also known as the Warring States period, Uehara Dekibei, a hired retainer of the powerful Takeda Clan, started to produce leather pieces for samurai armor. This production marked the start of INDEN-YA’s history. Incredibly, INDEN-YA is one of the rare businesses in Japan that started before the Edo period (1603–1867) and is still active today.
During the Edo period, a peaceful time in Japan, Uehara Yushichi, the head of INDEN-YA at the time, developed the first Koshu Inden products by applying lacquer to deerskin leather. The company shifted its focus from upper-class products to everyday goods for the masses, including pouches and tobacco holders. This trend continued into the Meiji era (1868–1912) as INDEN-YA produced more lifestyle items suitable for the times. In 2015, the company even had a collaboration with Gucci—showcasing its adaptability.
Since its founding, INDEN-YA has orally passed on its techniques and traditions from generation to generation, and as of 2022, the company is led by the fourteenth generation of the Uehara family.
INDEN-YA’s products and commitment to excellence
All of INDEN-YA’s goods are unique and carefully handmade by artisans following traditional techniques. The high-quality products are soft, lightweight, and durable, and the company even offers repair services—highlighting its dedication to making long-lasting products.
It is important to mention that one of the main components of inden goods is deerskin leather. INDEN-YA does not kill deer for its products but instead uses deerskin that is a by-product of the food industry.
INDEN-YA decorates its products with imaginative designs inspired by the present, as well as traditional Japanese patterns, including seigaiha (waves), cherry blossoms, dragonflies, and Mount Fuji motifs. Many of these beloved patterns embody Japanese people’s deep connection to nature. The company uses a variety of base materials and lacquer, resulting in a lovely range of color combinations. Since lacquer is applied on the base material’s surface, the patterns have a subtle raised appearance. Almost every year, INDEN-YA releases new product lines, keeping its offerings fresh while still adhering to its craft heritage. With affordable goods to luxury items, INDEN-YA has something for everyone.
The main products include:
- Wallets: coin purses, bifold wallets, and long wallets
- Small accessory items and cases: business card cases, pass cases, key holders, book covers, pouches, and more
- Bags: handbags, purses, shoulder bags, pochettes, sacoches, and more
INDEN-YA is a small family business that is striving to increase the value of its brand and reach people worldwide.
INDEN-YA’s shops
Although numerous companies produce inden products throughout Japan, Yamanashi is the main area. According to a document published in 1854, Kofu had three inden workshops, including INDEN-YA. Eventually, INDEN-YA became the only remaining workshop. Today, the company’s main store is still located in Kofu. It also has stores in Tokyo (Aoyama store in Minato City), Osaka (Shinsaibashi store in Chuo Ward), and Aichi (Nagoya-Misono store in Nagoya City).
INDEN-YA’s main store is especially unique as it is home to the Inden Museum. Located on the second floor, this museum has approximately 1,500 inden pieces and exhibits related to lacquerware crafts. Through its exhibitions the facility aims to promote inden crafts and techniques to future generations.
After perusing INDEN-YA’s main store, visitors can further immerse themselves in Japanese culture by sampling Yamanashi cuisine (wine and hearty hoto noodles are especially popular), exploring Koshu crystal and precious stone carvings (another Traditional Craft Product from Kofu), and of course, admiring the majestic Mount Fuji.
Beautiful products that merge the past and present
INDEN-YA’s goods are works of art rooted in centuries-old craftsmanship. Together, the attention to detail, quality materials, and meaningful designs ensure long-lasting and visually-captivating products that epitomize Japanese elegance.
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