There is a big difference between a product being designed in a country, made in a country, and being from that country. Where do the different pieces come to make a whole greater than the sum of its parts? What counts as being ‘Made in Japan’?
Many modern products, especially complex ones – think electronics, are like a typical American tracing their lineage. Differing percentages from all over the planet. Boeing’s airplanes are an excellent of this. Notable planes like the Dreamliner might be assembled at a few factories in the US, but the parts are sourced from various countries around the world.
With new technologies giving way to new efficiency in making quality products, what truly separates a mass-produced good from one produced by a craftsman in his studio? You just bought the new pair of V-Moda headphones. They are high-quality with their Italian inspiration evident in the branding. After all, they proudly proclaim “Designed in Venice”. As romantic as that sounds, if you look closely, you’ll notice that customizations for their products are done in LA while their primary factories are in China and Japan. Crafts that don’t require the touch of electricity to run might stand a better chance.
The Craft Leather Story
So what counts as being ‘Made in Japan’? Well, in the quiet southern end of Gotemba, just east of the Sleeping Giant known as Mt. Fuji, we can get a sense of why Japanese traditional crafts hold the test of time. Even with modern technological advances, traditional techniques are still used. Local material to assure high-quality durable products that give Japan and its crafts their world-renowned reputation. At Inokura Leather, products are designed and created in the same workshop, creating a positive feedback loop and essential quality control. Leather is sourced locally and there is the human element as the products are inspired directly from the passion of the President and Founder of the studio.
The world renowned Japanese crafts have their reputation and are exclusive for a reason. Inokura Leather tucked away by Mt. Fuji are a perfected example of the design and creation of products happening under one roof with locally sourced raw material making each product much more than the sum of its parts and is truly ‘Made in Japan’.
