Interview and text: Tropical Matsumura (editor/writer, CRT director)
Shirts from Fukuzo Clothing Store, a traditional clothing manufacturer representing Yokohama. Made in a visible sewing factory on the second floor of the store. 22,000 yen.
Painter Pants (Jeans Shop Mochizuki) These jeans are made by one of the few local jeans shops. They are carefully crafted in the store's workshop. Price: 25,300 yen.
Mochihada socks: These incredibly warm socks are said to have been loved by adventurer Naomi Uemura. They manufacture a wide range of knitwear using their own sewing equipment. 3,190 yen.
Tyrolean Shoes <Goro>: Casual shoes from a proud Japanese hiking boot manufacturer with many loyal fans. Made in-store and in their own factory. 39,380 yen.
Kobe Zack backpack: A backpack from a Kobe-based backpack manufacturer that has captivated serious mountaineers. Handmade in the store's workshop on the third floor. 33,000 yen.
Goro (Tokyo/Sugamo)
Classic casual shoes from a long-established mountaineering shoe manufacturer
Founded in 1973, Goro is a proud Japanese manufacturer of hiking boots. As they are committed to in-house manufacturing and sales, they are a renowned store that is often featured in the media. While they usually feature mountain boots, they also have the distinction of being the first to produce Tyrolean shoes and moccasins in Japan in the 1970s, when heavy-duty styles were trending. As a result, their lineup of casual shoes is also impressive.
Chukka boots. 35,200 yen. 
A stitch-down version of the popular "Buddy" model. 41,360 yen. 
This is a rare, deep type for a Tyrolean. 42,350 yen. 
The slippers that Goro made for the city are called "Goroppa" and cost 25,300 yen.
Being a manufacturer has many advantages, and they always measure the customer's feet in-store and create shoes that fit them perfectly. Needless to say, they also offer repair services. The craftsmen who sew shoes on the second floor of the store apply rosin to each individual thread to prevent the stitching from breaking, a process so beautiful it's hard to resist. The leather they use is an astounding 3mm thick! Apparently, they traveled all over Europe to find it. They can't be called light by any stretch of the imagination, but when you put them on, you'll be amazed at how well they fit to your feet, a feat of artisanal craftsmanship that machine-made shoes can't match.
The store is filled with heavy shoes. 
We always measure the customer's feet, even if the legs are different lengths. 
Bespoke hiking boots. 
You can also see the craftsmanship in the store. 
There are photos of past Craftsmen and mountaineers throughout the museum.
Fukuzo Clothing Store (Kanagawa/Yokohama)
Yokohama's traditional wear has quietly thrived for over 70 years
Located on Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street, lined with classy boutiques, Fukuzo Clothing Store has been promoting traditional fashion for an extremely long time. It is a long-established store that has placed emphasis on selling domestic fabrics and in-house manufacturing. It has been famous as a women's clothing store since around the 1950s.
This car coat was popular among men at Fukuzo Clothing Store in the 1950s and 1960s, before the Hamatora era. 103,400 yen. 
This yacht parka has long been loved by yachtsmen in Yokohama. 23,100 yen. 
There are many patterns available. Repairs are also available. 22,000 yen.
Because they attracted attention with their Hamatora fashion in the late 70s, the image of women's clothing tends to come first, but in fact, the men's floor on the second floor of the store is also lined with exquisite items. Most of the products, including shirts, are manufactured in a workshop (a full-scale factory) at the back of the second floor, from cutting and sewing to hand-embroidering the logo. What's more, they aim to have one person sew from start to finish, rather than splitting up the process. One of the attractions of this place is being able to see this careful work firsthand.
Button-down shirts made in the store's factory. 
The seahorse logo that appears on almost every product is hand-embroidered. 
The display and customer service are extremely attentive, making it clear that this is a long-established traditional manufacturer from Yokohama.
Jeans Shop Mochizuki (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)
A local jeans shop's niche originals are popular
Replica jeans, flared pants, work pants, you name it. Jeans Shop Mochizuki in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, has been specializing in jeans for over 40 years and is visited by locals of all ages and genders. As mentioned above, the shop owner, Tomoyoshi Mochizuki, had been dealing in a wide variety of jeans, but he began to desire something with a silhouette that was more in line with the products he was selling.
This 1910s coverall is made with modern sizing for a more comfortable fit. Price: 27,500 yen. 
These white jeans are designed with reasonable prices in mind. 11,000 yen. 
There are a variety of silhouettes available. This one is a straight cut with a slightly higher rise. 11,000 yen.
About 10 years ago, they opened a workshop inside the store and became a manufacturer of original jeans. They collaborate with a nearby select shop to make 70s jeans and also handle personal orders for regular customers. The jeans made by this "local jeans shop" range from vintage-like to thoroughly reasonable.
The store is filled with classic American casual brands. 
These original jeans are carefully made using fabrics from Hiroshima and Okayama. The brand is called Full Moon Factory. 
They make everything in-house, and if you buy something from the store, they'll gladly make any adjustments you need.
Kobe Zack Shin-Nagata store (Hyogo/Kobe)
A backpack from Kobe that has been passed down and preserved down to the craftsmanship
The backpacks of Imoc, a long-established brand produced by Kobe Zack, a company favored by mountaineers, have been gaining attention in recent years. The reason for this is that when founder Hiroyuki Hoshika was getting old and was about to close the business, Takushi Maekawa of the select shop Ranchiki took over.
A travel pouch that you'll want to add to your outfit. 7,150 yen. 
The 20L "Tekuri L" is suitable for both light mountain climbing and everyday use around town. 29,700 yen. 
The "Drawstring Backpack" was originally designed as a backpack for high school Wandervogel club competitions. It costs 9,790 yen.
He has a special affection for Imoc, which he has been selling in his own store for over 10 years, and has built a new showroom/store with an attached workshop. He values the past and has carefully preserved the patterns and sewing machines that were actually used, so that they can be used again. Not only that, he employs students from the fashion school he teaches at for manufacturing. Not only have his various masterpieces remained the same, but he is also working to improve the quality, so it is no wonder that they are so popular.
All the backpacks are exciting and heavy-duty. 
It is sewn using old cardboard patterns and a power sewing machine. 
Each part has its own creator, and recently they have released a collaboration with a major select shop.
Mochihada (Hyogo/Kakogawa)
Traditional knitwear made with our own unique machines that will keep you warm in the cold
If you don't like winter because it's cold, you should definitely try Mochihada 's knitwear. The store is only open during the winter and is not yet scheduled for this year, but they own a large factory in Kakogawa, Hyogo. All of the knitwear produced there, including socks, innerwear, and neck warmers, is made using the company's original circular knitting machine, which was developed in 1970.
Neck warmers made in collaboration with the Uemura Naomi Adventure Museum. 1,800 yen each. 
These high socks are the same model used by Naoki Uemura. They are priced at 3,190 yen each. 
Warm long-sleeved innerwear. 7,700 yen each.
This patented machine is simply outstanding. It raises the fabric during the knitting stage, so not only does it raise the fabric evenly, it also prevents the pile loops from breaking down during the process, resulting in exceptional warmth and a soft feel. Many people will be eager to try them out when they hear that this is the manufacturer of the high socks worn by Naomi Uemura, a fastidious adventurer, on his Antarctic adventure.
A knitting factory that is also relied upon by famous outdoor manufacturers. 
At the entrance to the head office, there is an exhibition of various Mochihada products and panels. 
Mochihada has pursued and refined this exquisite brushed fabric, which is produced through a unique method of brushing while knitting, resulting in significantly improved heat retention.
