Loving their city and pouring their passion into craftsmanship—Kobe, along with Yokohama, was one of the first port cities to flourish and open itself to the world, fostering its own unique culture. In this city that has risen again after the earthquake, we visited three groups of creators who are dedicated to their craft.

Located on a slope leading up from Kobe's port towards the mountains, on the southwest corner of the Gomo Five-Way Intersection, on the first floor of a three-story building with red brick tiles, stands the BAGERA workshop. This retro and mysterious space gives you the illusion of having traveled back in time.

The shop's name, with its distinctive font, immediately catches the eye. The shop is filled with antique items. After listening to the two owners, it became clear that all of these elements were integral parts of Bagella's craftsmanship.

The workshop is run by three people: Kazunari Takada, who studied architecture at an art university before training as a bag maker; his wife, Naoko, who was his classmate; and a female assistant. Despite studying architecture, the couple decided to focus on custom-made leather goods, saying they wanted to "do work that can be completed on a tabletop." We asked them about their craftsmanship in Kobe.

Leather goods and houses are similar in that they both serve to "contain important things."

The Takada couple, who studied architecture at art school and were exposed to the buildings created by many great figures, learned the importance of structure.

"Everything beautiful has a structure, and it's designed with the intention of being used. That's why the more you use it, the more the difference becomes apparent. For example, even something as simple as how to attach a bag strap requires careful consideration of its thickness and core material depending on what and how much you plan to put inside," (Kazunari).

The meticulous attention to detail, even in areas that might not be immediately noticeable, was evident in how the appearance changed when items were placed inside.

The existence of Bagella is born from confronting this issue.

"We received a lot of inspiration from the antique bags that our customers brought in. That experience has become the basis of our current creations, and we have come to the conviction that we cannot create anything beautiful without a design that is underpinned by that structure," (Kazunari).

Bagella started in 2002, when taking orders for custom-made leather goods online was still unusual. It began almost entirely through self-study, with the founder disassembling bags he was interested in to study their construction methods. Currently, Kazunari mainly handles "structuralist" style bags, while Naoko primarily handles leather goods that "emphasize sensibility."


"When we receive an order from a customer, we first draw a design sketch, then create a pattern (template), and then actually make a prototype using felt. By checking how it looks in three dimensions and the balance of the handle, we can faithfully express the shape that the customer had envisioned," says Kazunari.

This is a unique approach that only Bagella could take.

"Making bags keeps the adrenaline pumping. I love going from zero to 10," says Kazunari, to which Naoko laughs, "The last 10% before it's finished is incredibly fun. After all the hard work, when all that's left is polishing the edges, it suddenly turns into a feeling of sadness."

Kazunari also said, "I like design and architecture, but unlike architecture, the appeal of making things is that you can complete everything from design to production on a single table. More than anything, I love working secluded in my workshop."

"When I hit a wall, I climb a mountain and confront the problem," (Kazunari)

At some point, climbing Mount Rokko, located behind the house, became a source of enjoyment, and now it's a weekly habit, a three-hour round trip. Sweating as he climbs, he gazes down at the view. He engages in conversations with himself, or talks with himself. It helps to clear his mind and move closer to new creative endeavors.

NEXT: Creating products inspired by our customers' lives.