Murase KabankoSince 1957
Since 1957 · Murase Kabanko Atelier
The Japanese Randoseru, Reimagined. — Handcrafted Japanese Leather Randoseru Backpacks
Hand saddle-stitched leather backpacks for professionals who carry less, but carry it for decades. Sixty-plus years of Nagoya craftsmanship in every seam — built once, built for life.
- Handcrafted in Nagoya, Japan
- Full-Grain Tochigi Leather
- Free Worldwide Shipping
The Leather
What makes Tochigi vegetable-tanned leather different?
Tochigi leather is vegetable-tanned in Japan — a slow, plant-based process that keeps the hide's full grain intact, so the leather develops a patina over decades instead of cracking or peeling.
Elsewhere
Mass-Produced Chrome Tanned
- Speed-processed
- Synthetic coatings
- Wears out over seasons
Our Standard
Japanese Tochigi Vegetable Tanned
- Months of organic tanning
- Deep fiber density
- Develops a rich custom patina over decades
Our Palette
- Turquoise
- Tangerine
- Plum
- Burgundy
- Black
- Camel
The Collection
Find your silhouette.
The Heritage Series
Six colourways, one enduring silhouette — kid-sized, worn by adults too.
From $1,000.00
The Sufuria Adult Series
Signature finishes for the everyday journey.
From $650.00
The Nagoya Executive
Heritage craftsmanship at its most refined.
From $1,500.00
Original Nagoya Executive
The heirloom original, in Midnight Onyx.
From $1,200.00
The Mini Ransel
Scaled for younger explorers.
From $650.00
Shop by Need
Which backpack fits the way you carry?
The line splits by need: the Nagoya Executive for structured work-carry, the Sufuria for sleek urban commuting, the Mini Ransel for compact essentials, and the Heritage Series for the next generation.
Daily Business & Work
The Executive
Structured, laptop-ready carry in Tochigi leather — for the office and the flight after it.
ExploreSleek Urban Commuting
The Sufuria
Contemporary lines and lighter weight for the daily ride, walk, and everything between.
ExploreCompact & Minimalist
The Mini Ransel
Half-scale, 580 g, three ways to carry — the essentials, nothing more.
ExploreFor the Next Generation
The Heritage Series
The six-year school Randoseru, kid-sized and built to outlast the curriculum — and worn by adults too.
ExploreNot sure which line is yours? Answer three questions and we'll point you to the one bag that fits.
Find My Match — 3 quick questionsThe Lineup
Which line is yours?
Same atelier, same hand saddle-stitch — the difference is scale, leather, and silhouette.
| Nagoya Executive | Adult Randoseru | Heritage Series | Mini Ransel | Sufuria Adult Series | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale & silhouette | Full-scale executive briefcase-backpack | Adult-scaled classic Randoseru | Classic Randoseru — fits both adults and kids | 1/2-scale Ransel · 23 × 18 cm · 580 g | Adult-sized, contemporary evolution |
| Leather | Premium vegetable-tanned Tochigi leather | Full-grain leather | Full-grain leather | Cowhide leather | Full-grain leather |
| Carry | Backpack, structured for work | Backpack — the iconic silhouette | Backpack, ergonomically sized for both adults and children | 3WAY — backpack, shoulder, or hand carry | Backpack — modern utility |
| Laptop | Up to 16″ — fits a 16″ MacBook Pro | — | — | — | — |
| Best for | Daily business, commuting & travel | The classic Randoseru, worn by adults | A child's school years — or adult wear with a strap extender | Compact, minimalist everyday carry | The craft, at the most accessible price |
| From | $1,200 | $1,500 | $1,000 | $650 | $650 |
The Nagoya Executive fits a laptop up to 16″ (a 16″ MacBook Pro). Full specifications on each product page.
The Heritage Series
Made for kids. Worn by adults.
The Heritage Series is built to a child's school-day proportions — but it doesn't stay there. Plenty of adults wear one: smaller adults wear it as it comes, and if the straps run short, a Randoseru strap extender attaches to the existing straps and lengthens the fit for anyone.
Strap extenders aren't something we sell — they're widely available on Amazon. The bag itself is the same heirloom-grade piece either way: full-grain leather, hand saddle-stitched in Nagoya, built to outlast six years of daily use.
From the comments
What do owners say after carrying one daily?
In their own words — on the leather, the stitching, and how the bags carry through a daily commute, months in.
“Such nicely crafted backpacks.”
“This looks so stylish and luxurious.”
“Looks stylish, with durable quality.”
“Beautiful collection.”
“Such a nice backpack!”
“I'm going to buy this soon.”
“Wonderful collection.”
“Such a nice collection.”
“Beautiful.”
“Love it.”
Inside the Atelier
Where are these backpacks actually made?
In a single workshop in Nagoya, Japan — the same building since 1957 — where named artisans cut, stitch and finish every bag by hand.
01 · The Workshop
Same building. Same benches. Since 1957.
02 · The Artisan
Hiroshi Tanaka — 34 years.
03 · The Stitch
Two needles. Waxed linen. By hand.
A Closer Look
How is a randoseru saddle-stitched
by hand?
Every seam is hand saddle-stitched with two needles and waxed linen thread at eight stitches per inch — each stitch locks independently, so if one ever breaks, the seam still holds. It is also why a single bag takes 200+ hours to make.
Our Philosophy
Kodawari: a devotion to the detail.
In Japan, kodawari describes a lifelong commitment to refining a craft — the belief that no detail is too small to deserve care. At Murase Kabanko’s Nagoya atelier, that spirit lives in every carefully finished seam, leather panel, and fitting.
Study I
The Sufuria — Adult Series
Clean lines. Metal buckle. A daily companion.
1 / 3Twin belts. Metal buckle.
A single, quiet plane of full-grain leather — bracketed by two adjustable belts and secured with a metal buckle beneath the bag, just like the Randoseru.
1 / 3Eight per inch.
Saddle-stitched with waxed linen — twice as slow, four times the life.
1 / 3Adjustable. By the half-centimetre.
Eighteen perforations down each strap — set once, forgotten forever.
Study II
The Original Randoseru — Child's Heritage Bag
The original schoolbag from Japan, largely unchanged for over seventy years — and worn by adults today.
A curve, not a corner.
The Randoseru body is drawn from a single arc — every panel falls true to the spine.
Cream canvas. Cotton thread.
Hand-set, hand-stitched, and finished with a single brass key clip — a quiet courtesy.
Solid brass. Polished by hand.
Every fitting is sand-cast, machined, and hand-polished by a single atelier in Seki.
Study III
The Mini Ransel
The smallest of the family — in colours that don't hide.
1 / 3Petite. Precise. Unapologetic.
The Mini Ransel is the youngest member of the line — a single gold turn-lock on hand-curved leather, made for the smallest carrier.
1 / 3Rich. Regal. Understated.
A deep aubergine cast — the heirloom cousin of the tangerine, cut in the same lines and finished in the same leather.
1 / 3Quiet. Cool. Distinct.
A single, unexpected note in the family — for the carrier who wants to be seen without saying a word.
Recognition
Is the workshop award-winning?
Yes — Murase Kabanko has received Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, and trophies at the Japan Leather Award, the country's premier competition for leather goods.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award
Japan Bag Technology Creation Contest — Highest National Honor for Bag-Making & Structural Engineering in Japan
"Hana" Randoseru
Awarded for exquisite artisan stitching and structural durability.
"OnlyOneBox" Randoseru
Recognized for master-level technical assembly and innovative space utilization.
Japan Leather Award Trophies
Japan's Premier Competition for Elite Leather Goods
Artistic Design Award
Samurai armor-style backpack assembled by leather craftsman Noriki Okada.
Special Selection Award — "Ukiyo Kaban -Fugaku-"
Indigo-dyed crocodile skin and natural cowhide inspired by The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
Best Design Award — "HideRu"
Celebrated for pioneering the "Adult Randoseru" — adapting the iconic Japanese school bag into a sleek briefcase-backpack hybrid for working professionals.
Lifestyle Goods Award
Awarded for intricate, hand-woven Intrecciato leather randoseru patterns.
As Seen On.
68
Years of Craft
200+
Hours / Piece
6yr
Warranty
Frequently Asked
Everything you might ask.
Everything you might want to know — from materials to shipping. Still curious? Write to our atelier.
For Creators & Editors
For creators and editors.
We partner with a small, devoted circle of editors, photographers, stylists, writers, and creators who share an enduring appreciation for fine craft, premium materials, and thoughtful design. If your work aligns with our ethos and you would like to collaborate with Murase Kabanko, please review our Affiliate Program Overview found HERE for details on partnerships, terms, and how to apply.