【TSUCHIYA KABAN】Achieves a Feat at the World's Largest Design Award "A' Design Award 2026", Two Entered Products Win the Top Platinum Award
TSUCHIYA KABAN, a leather goods brand of Tsuchiya Kaban Mfg. Co., Ltd., has won the highest Platinum Award for two products, "OTONA RANDSEL FT 001" and "Japan Motif Kumihimo Bag", in the "Fashion and Travel Accessories Design" category of the Italian international design award "A' Design Award & Competition 2026". This recognition highlights the brand's fusion of traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary design.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 19:30
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TSUCHIYA KABAN, a leather goods brand of Tsuchiya Kaban Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Adachi-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as “the Company”), has won the highest Platinum Award for two products, "OTONA RANDSEL FT 001" and "Japan Motif Kumihimo Bag," in the "Fashion and Travel Accessories Design" category of the international design award "A' Design Award & Competition 2026" held in Italy.
"OTONA RANDSEL FT 001" is an adult model that reconstructs the unique structural beauty of the randoseru into a modern backpack. The "Japan Motif Kumihimo Bag," on the other hand, incorporates "Kumihimo" (traditional Japanese braiding) produced by Ryu Kobo, a long-established Kumihimo workshop, reinterpreting traditional Japanese techniques in a contemporary way.
Common to both products is TSUCHIYA KABAN's pursuit of a quiet aesthetic that blends into daily life and a manufacturing philosophy based on long-term use, all built upon the craftsmanship cultivated over many years.
What is A' Design Award & Competition?
The "A' Design Award & Competition" is an international design award held in Italy. It covers diverse fields such as product, architecture, fashion, and graphic design. Submissions from around the world are evaluated through a rigorous judging process by experts and opinion leaders. Awards are divided into Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron categories, conferred for outstanding designs.
An adult backpack that reconstructs the structural beauty of the randoseru
This product is a model developed as an adult backpack, reinterpreting the structure and functions of the randoseru, a traditional Japanese school bag. Based on the randoseru manufacturing techniques cultivated since the company's founding in 1965, previously developed adult models have been reconstructed and evolved into designs suitable for modern lifestyles. While inheriting features such as an elegant appearance, comfortable carrying feel, and robust box-shaped structure, the functional beauty has been further refined.
In terms of design, it utilizes the unique balance of straight and curved lines characteristic of the randoseru while adopting a minimal silhouette without the symbolic flap. By incorporating gentle ergonomic curves into the back, it achieves both sculptural tension and comfort.
Furthermore, by eliminating external pockets, the purity of the exterior appearance is enhanced, while the opening structure has been revised to improve internal accessibility compared to conventional adult models. It combines a visually uncluttered design with practical convenience suitable for everyday use.
Award: Platinum A' Design Award
Award Category: Fashion and Travel Accessories Design
Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=180952
OTONA RANDSEL FT 001 ¥253,000 (tax included)
Size: Height 41.0 x Width 29.5 x Bottom gusset 12.0 cm
Shoulder strap length 67.0-88.0 cm, 7-stage adjustment
Handle height 3.5 cm
A4 files can be stored
Main compartment: 14inch (33.0cm x 23.0cm x 2.0cm) storage possible
PC pocket: 13inch (31.5cm x 22.0cm x 2.0cm)
Functions: Interior = Free pockets x 3
Materials: Exterior = Cowhide, Interior = Polyester/Polyurethane blend
Weight: Approximately 1940g
Product Page:
https://tsuchiya-kaban.jp/products/otona-randsel-ft-001
"Japan Motif Kumihimo Bag" which reconstructs traditional craft "Kumihimo" into a modern bag
This product, part of the "JAPANMOTIF" series inspired by Japanese "forms," aims to harmonize traditional Japanese beauty with modern lifestyles, reconstructing the formative beauty seen in kimono culture into a daily-use bag. Instead of simply incorporating traditional crafts, it reinterprets them into designs that naturally blend with contemporary attire, resulting in products that are easy to incorporate into daily life.
The structure adopts traditional Kumihimo techniques that have continued since the Edo period. Ryu Kobo, a long-established Kumihimo shop, is responsible for the entire process from Kumihimo production to its integration into the bag. While possessing durability and flexibility born from braiding cords, the design, with its minimized ornamentation, highlights the beauty of the material and technique itself.
The Kumihimo used as part of the structure also embodies the meaning of connection and good fortune symbolized by "Musubi" (knotting) in Japanese culture, and leather parts...
"OTONA RANDSEL FT 001" is an adult model that reconstructs the unique structural beauty of the randoseru into a modern backpack. The "Japan Motif Kumihimo Bag," on the other hand, incorporates "Kumihimo" (traditional Japanese braiding) produced by Ryu Kobo, a long-established Kumihimo workshop, reinterpreting traditional Japanese techniques in a contemporary way.
Common to both products is TSUCHIYA KABAN's pursuit of a quiet aesthetic that blends into daily life and a manufacturing philosophy based on long-term use, all built upon the craftsmanship cultivated over many years.
What is A' Design Award & Competition?
The "A' Design Award & Competition" is an international design award held in Italy. It covers diverse fields such as product, architecture, fashion, and graphic design. Submissions from around the world are evaluated through a rigorous judging process by experts and opinion leaders. Awards are divided into Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron categories, conferred for outstanding designs.
An adult backpack that reconstructs the structural beauty of the randoseru
This product is a model developed as an adult backpack, reinterpreting the structure and functions of the randoseru, a traditional Japanese school bag. Based on the randoseru manufacturing techniques cultivated since the company's founding in 1965, previously developed adult models have been reconstructed and evolved into designs suitable for modern lifestyles. While inheriting features such as an elegant appearance, comfortable carrying feel, and robust box-shaped structure, the functional beauty has been further refined.
In terms of design, it utilizes the unique balance of straight and curved lines characteristic of the randoseru while adopting a minimal silhouette without the symbolic flap. By incorporating gentle ergonomic curves into the back, it achieves both sculptural tension and comfort.
Furthermore, by eliminating external pockets, the purity of the exterior appearance is enhanced, while the opening structure has been revised to improve internal accessibility compared to conventional adult models. It combines a visually uncluttered design with practical convenience suitable for everyday use.
Award: Platinum A' Design Award
Award Category: Fashion and Travel Accessories Design
Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=180952
OTONA RANDSEL FT 001 ¥253,000 (tax included)
Size: Height 41.0 x Width 29.5 x Bottom gusset 12.0 cm
Shoulder strap length 67.0-88.0 cm, 7-stage adjustment
Handle height 3.5 cm
A4 files can be stored
Main compartment: 14inch (33.0cm x 23.0cm x 2.0cm) storage possible
PC pocket: 13inch (31.5cm x 22.0cm x 2.0cm)
Functions: Interior = Free pockets x 3
Materials: Exterior = Cowhide, Interior = Polyester/Polyurethane blend
Weight: Approximately 1940g
Product Page:
https://tsuchiya-kaban.jp/products/otona-randsel-ft-001
"Japan Motif Kumihimo Bag" which reconstructs traditional craft "Kumihimo" into a modern bag
This product, part of the "JAPANMOTIF" series inspired by Japanese "forms," aims to harmonize traditional Japanese beauty with modern lifestyles, reconstructing the formative beauty seen in kimono culture into a daily-use bag. Instead of simply incorporating traditional crafts, it reinterprets them into designs that naturally blend with contemporary attire, resulting in products that are easy to incorporate into daily life.
The structure adopts traditional Kumihimo techniques that have continued since the Edo period. Ryu Kobo, a long-established Kumihimo shop, is responsible for the entire process from Kumihimo production to its integration into the bag. While possessing durability and flexibility born from braiding cords, the design, with its minimized ornamentation, highlights the beauty of the material and technique itself.
The Kumihimo used as part of the structure also embodies the meaning of connection and good fortune symbolized by "Musubi" (knotting) in Japanese culture, and leather parts...