A Brand from Kagawa, Japan Making "Bags That Seem Like They Should Exist But Don't" – Kawanishi Kaban

Currently, the YouTube channel Kawanishi Kaban no Kyujitsu has over 70,000 subscribers. It's popular not just for promoting their own products but also for reviewing bags from other brands and various professions without bias.

Kawanishi Kaban, based in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, is a workshop dedicated to creating long-loved products. The charm of their products lies in their uniquely designed bags, which can't be found elsewhere. Starting with their success on the crowdfunding site Makuake, they've been continually creating products that thrill bag enthusiasts.

We spoke with the company's president, Atsushi Kawanishi, about the creation of Kawanishi Kaban, their YouTube ventures, and the thoughts behind their manufacturing process.

Can you tell us about your background?

I became independent in 2015 as a subcontract factory for bags. The working conditions of subcontracting were not good at the time, so we raised our rates to improve salaries and working conditions. This happened in December 2016.