KK
A masterpiece was produced through
the collaboration of Kaoru Kasai and Fujitaka
Kaoru Kasai
Born in Sapporo in 1949. Joined SunAd Ltd in 1973. In addition to advertising and package design for the Suntory Oolong Tea China Series (1983-present), United Arrows (1997-present), Toraya, and TORAYA CAFE (2004-present), his diverse activities include CI and signage planning for Suntory, the Suntory Museum of Art, and the Roppongi Shopping District Promotion Association, as well as promotional and book design for films and theater productions. Recent work includes the promotional production for the film “Even Deeper than the Sea” (directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda) and the book design for the new edition of “The Diaries of Paul Klee” (Misuzu Shobo). He has received awards such as the Mainichi Design Prize and the Kodansha Cultural Book Design Award.
In pursuit of ease of use for himself
This is the bag that Mr. Kasai truly wants to carry every day. He designed it himself, striving for his ultimate personal requirements. Mr. Kasai's sketch, which was created with his personal lifestyle in mind, displays his strong dedication to the pocket shapes, main compartment layout, gusset width, and more. Our process began with detailed discussions with designers and craftsmen to select materials and colors based on the sketch.
Turning the image into shape
Sample creation is carried out by FUJITAKA’s skilled craftsmen. Mr. Kasai tests them daily and makes changes, moving closer to the vision he has. Mr. Kasai creates a product that he believes is “ideal” by drawing the silhouette lines himself and making careful and delicate adjustments.
Pursuing Ultimate Craft
Our goal is to produce uncompromising craftsmanship. The width of the bag, the shape of the handles, and the straps were carefully considered down to millimeters. The process resulted in five-time refinements. This meticulously crafted bag was created using a lot of time and effort.
The Four Essentials of Mr. Kasai
Storage Space
The simple silhouette features a variety of storage functions. The design is intended to accommodate items that Mr. Kasai frequently carries, such as pocket edition books, notebooks, and eyeglass cases. A light camel-colored brush material is used for the interior. The soft, enveloping material prevents items from being damaged while also enhancing visibility.
The main compartment is opened wide by an L-shaped zipper. Even thick items can be safely stored with their wide opening, making access easy. The partition is adjustable and can change the gusset width.
The L-shaped pocket is also a key design element. The craftsman has created a zipper pocket using a single piece of leather that has no seams and is luxuriously used. There are two pockets inside.
When you ride the train and carry a backpack in front of you, a pocket is provided to facilitate the process of taking things in and out. The side pockets also have a gusset to ensure capacity.
There is a partition that can be removed using a hook. There are two mesh pockets on one side, and a pocket without a gusset on the other.
Even when the bag is on your back, you can still access it easily due to the side pockets. The entire width of the main body can be used for storage, and it has ample capacity. The size was designed to be easy to insert and remove, even for men's hands, and it was achieved through repeated revisions.
Even when you sweat, it's not stuffy because it's made of mesh material and provides excellent cushioning. It's possible to store electronic devices like tablets as well. It can be used as a security pocket because it touches the back when you wear it.
Material
The material was chosen based on the theme of “matched with denim”. The preservation of the original texture of leather and the use of aniline dye to soak selected high-quality raw leather result in a deep color and moderate casual feel. The more you use it, the softer and textured it becomes, so you can enjoy the changes over time.
There are 4 colors available. Black and chocolate brown have a basic image and a sense of stability. Navy is a color that symbolizes cleanliness and freshness, giving a moderately fresh impression. Taupe was our choice because of its calmness and soft color, which seems to embrace you.
Zipper Line
Created to align the start and finish of the zipper. The neatly lined zipper line gives moderate tension to the casual feel of the material, creating a casual chic look. The elegant and classic impression is typical of FUJITAKA, with a thoughtful touch.
Silhouette
There is a gentle curve in the upper part of the bag. During the sample creation process, Mr. Kasai drew and adjusted the lines to create this silhouette.
Even though the design uses zippers to create many straight lines, it aims to create a soft impression with its square shape. Similar to the bag, the shoulder strap's tip is designed to be slightly tapered inward, which gives it a soft and clean impression.
Size (cm)
A masterpiece that Mr. Kaoru Kasai aimed to
create without compromise
Interview
