Part 2 of 2This small difference made a huge difference.

What was this leather originally designed for?

Tanabe

It was originally developed for use in small leather accessories, like bags, wallets, and other items that are handled a lot.

So its best qualities are brought out through touch.

Tanabe

Right. You could say it’s a leather that’s designed to be touched.

It has such a sophisticated feel to it.

Tanabe

The leather is from bulls raised in France, so while it has dense fibers and is strong all the way through, the end result and appearance are both very elegant. This is another product of the close attention to detail the knowledgeable craftsmen of Italy pay .

What kind of people are working at the tanner?

Tanabe

The tanner is called Capital; it’s in Santa Croce, Italy. Their specialty is leather tanning, and their president is a leather aficionado who is always taking on new challenges. They also focus heavily on creating the base of the leather, with the idea that no leather can be good without a good foundation. Given all that, they’re an incredibly reliable company.

I see. Could you also tell us a little bit about yourself? Why did you get into the leather business?

Tanabe

After I graduated college, I worked in sales for a handbag manufacturer for two years. I often heard from customers how wonderful Italian leather was, and it got me so curious that I just had to go to Italy and see for myself.

Wow, just like that!

Tanabe

I tried asking the company to send me over, but naturally, it was a tough sell. So after two years, I quit the company and went backpacking across Italy to explore their leather goods. I ended up staying there on two occasions, three months at a time.

What did you do while you were in Italy?

Tanabe

I had no skills and no connections, but I sent out applications in hopes of getting hired at some company in the leather business. Of all the places there, one single company agreed to hire me, despite my not knowing anything. It was a tanner called La Bretagna, and at the time they were still family-operated.

Oh, that’s the tanner that made the leather for our TS 2017 Black Domopack cover!

Tanabe

It is! In the morning I’d go to work first thing to help out, then I’d have lunch from Mamma, and then I’d go to language school in the evening. I did that for about a month, and that’s where I learned all the basics of the leather process.

Was that all in Italian?

Tanabe

Yeah. At first I had no idea what they were saying, but I took notes the best I could and studied them. The Mamma of the family even wrote down her recipes for me, and to this day those are a special treasure of mine.

What a lovely story. And it’s nice to see such a unique leather make it onto this year’s cover. We can see how special it is from all the things you’ve told us.

Tanabe

When I first laid eyes on this leather and held it in my hands, this small difference I felt from other leathers ended up being a huge deal. It doesn’t take much to be a game-changer.

So the small difference made a huge difference.

Tanabe

There are so many leathers out there that are extremely similar to one another, and one of the most fun parts of this job is being able to discover gems like this from among them. That excitement gets passed on to customers who are leather fans, and they cherish that special experience in a way that solidifies a product as a staple that then gets used for 10, 20 years.

That’s so lovely. And it’s so fascinating to know that there are still new kinds of leather being made among the countless styles already out there.

Tanabe

That’s what makes leather so great. As long as people out there are eating meat, there will be leather.

Yeah.

Tanabe

But beyond that, I’ve come to see that it’s not just about having high-quality leather to work with. No matter how exceptional the original leather may be, you have to work with it just right to bring out its true appeal. When it comes to leather products, the final result is what matters most

So it’s about how it turns out when it’s been fully worked.

Tanabe

I’m always so impressed every year when I see the completed Hobonichi Techo covers. Every time, the covers turn out better than I was expecting, and I can tell that the leathers were processed carefully to maximize the potential and appeal of the original leather. As someone who works with leather every day it makes me so excited and happy.

Aww, thank you so much.

Tanabe

I was actually expecting this year’s cover to end up feeling a little casual, but I was impressed — it’s really well-polished and sophisticated. It’s hard to find leather products quite like this one.

I’m so happy to hear you say that. I hope this cover can reach a lot of customers. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today, and we look forward to working with you more.

Photography: Masanori Kaneshita