Inden are decorative leather goods that feature patterns drawn with urushi on deerskin.

It has been claimed that the first inden were made in the Kan'ei years (1624-1643) of the Edo period. Beautiful, decorative leather gifted to the then Japanese government by India inspired local artisans to create decorative leather that would be unique to Japan.

Today, the legacy of inden as a traditional decorative art is only carried on in the area around Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture. Formerly, this area was called "Koshu," which is why the inden crafted there is called "Koshu Inden". The unique process that uses urushi for decoration, which originated in Koshu, attracted people's attention at the time.

Traditionally, Koshu Inden was used in the manufacture of armor and helmets, as well as pouches; today, it is also used for purses, bags and the like. Deerskin products have great strength and durability. The more they are used, the more their appearance and texture change, and their appeal increases along with the patterns of the urushi.

Designs reminiscent of Japan's four seasons, such as small cherry blossoms, waves and dragonflies, are traditional classics, but recently, images of characters from anime and computer games have begun to appear, with the variety of patterns increasing in line with the times.

Why not try it out and feel the beauty of Japan in the lovely shadows created by the unique three-dimensional patterns on the surface of the deerskin?