[Young Artisans x Traditional Techniques] Preserving the 'Fukin-machi' technique for the future. Launching a genuine leather L-zip wallet on Makuake.

The centerpiece of this project is the 'Fukin-machi' technique, a method passed down through generations of Japanese wallet making. Fukin-machi involves folding the leather inward like an accordion, a structure that prevents the wallet from bulging on the outside while maintaining both thinness and storage capacity. However, because this technique requires significant time and precision, it is rarely used in modern manufacturing, which prioritizes efficiency. Shinsin Kobo's goal is not just to create a thin and easy-to-use wallet. By having young artisans learn the Fukin-machi technique and shape it into a wallet suitable for modern life, they aim to pass on Japanese wallet-making skills to the next generation. Conventional gussets often expand outward to increase storage, which causes the entire wallet to bulge as it is filled. In contrast, the Fukin-machi technique folds the leather inward, keeping the exterior slim even when filled. Leather thickness, folding angles, stitching positions, and margins—slight differences affect the ease of opening and the beauty of the finish. This is why the technique is difficult to preserve in efficiency-driven manufacturing. Shinsin Kobo has not let this technique end as a 'relic of the past'; instead, young artisans have learned it and adapted it into a modern, practical wallet. The core theme is to prevent Fukin-machi from becoming a 'lost technology' and to connect it to the future as a traditional skill. Recommended capacity: 20 bills, 15 coins, 16 cards. Creating an environment where young artisans can challenge themselves with traditional techniques connects Japanese craftsmanship to the future. Skills begin to fade the moment they stop being used, and once lost, they are difficult to recover. That is why Shinsin Kobo values an environment where young artisans can take on such challenges. When young artisans learn, create, and deliver these works to customers, it fosters their growth and influences future leather product designs. Preserving Fukin-machi is not just about saving one technique; it is about finding value in Japanese craftsmanship and increasing the number of young artisans who carry it on. A wallet is a partner you touch many times every day. This product combines the texture of genuine leather with practicality for daily use. It is not just for special occasions, but a partner for everyday life. Shinsin Kobo views leather goods not as mere decorations, but as partners to be used in daily life. Representative's comment: By having young artisans learn, create, and deliver, we connect Japanese craftsmanship to the future. We will not let it become a lost technology. We are passing on this tradition by having young artisans learn and create. The most important thing in this project is to ensure Fukin-machi does not become a lost technology. While it is an excellent structure, it requires time and skill, which is why it is disappearing in modern manufacturing. We don't want this to end as a thing of the past. We want to pass it on as a living skill. Traditional techniques cannot survive by being protected alone; they must be adapted to modern life to be chosen by users. Shinsin Kobo will continue to create spaces for young artisans to challenge themselves, increasing the number of Japanese craftsmen and connecting manufacturing skills to the next generation. Product Overview: Name: Escalier, Sales Platform: Makuake, URL: https://www.makuake.com/project/sin-m260501/, Brand: Shinsin Kobo, Category: Genuine Leather L-zip Wallet, Features: Fukin-machi, L-zip, Slim design, High capacity, Genuine leather, Seller: Sennyu Co., Ltd., Location: 2-1-7 Taisho, Kashiwara City, Osaka, Official Site: https://sennyu.jp/, Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sinsinkobo