sasicco Bag: The Bag Built Like a Judo Uniform

The weaving of Mikawa cotton sashiko began in the Edo period, where it was developed as a fabric for firefighting coats. Thick, durable cloth was reinforced with sashiko stitching to improve fire resistance and strength, making it indispensable for firefighters.

Modern Functionality thanks to various specifications such as a 3-way design (Tote・Shoulder・Carry-on), large storage capacity, and multiple pockets.

This 100% natural Mikawa cotton is a fabric known for its exceptional durability and has long been used for judo uniforms. Even during everyday use, it holds its shape and becomes softer and more comfortable the more you carry it.

We at Tanei are a long-established maker of martial arts uniforms, and we continue to carry forward the techniques developed by the previous generation, producing strong yet supple sashiko-woven fabric.
 In an age dominated by mass production and synthetic fibers, we want to share the inherent value of true craftsmanship and natural materials. Mikawa cotton sashiko weaving carries a trusted quality that has been passed down for generations. We launched this project to bring that tradition and the strength of its craftsmanship to people around the world.

From daily commutes to weekend travel, this bag is crafted to balance durability with ease of use. While utilising the traditional Japanese sashiko weaving, every detail is designed to suit a modern lifestyle. It is a well-designed bag that fuses practicality and craftsmanship without compromise.

The large size offers enough capacity for everything you need for a one to two-night trip. It works not only for daily shopping but also as a single bag that can handle camping or travel.

A flexible three-way carry that adapts to any setting. 
Behind its simple appearance, it offers tote, shoulder, and carry-on styles. Whether you are commuting, heading out on a business trip, or traveling, you can change the way you carry it to suit the moment. It is a bag designed to stay close to daily life.

Inside the bag, you will find a large pocket that fits A4 documents and two smaller pockets for organizing essentials. It can hold a laptop, tablet, or documents with ease. The smaller pockets are sized for items like a smartphone, passport, or AirPods, keeping everything you need close at hand.

Built with a convenient exterior pocket for items you want to reach quickly. It is ideal for things like a power bank or sunglasses. You can take out what you need without opening the main compartment, even while on the move.

The opening is wide, and the bag stands upright on its own, making packing smooth. The wide, stable base keeps items from shifting and makes it easy to organize your belongings even when the bag is sitting on the floor. Whether getting ready in the morning or using it on a trip, the design keeps everything stress-free.

The interior is finished with a vinyl coating that resists dirt and moisture. Spills and damp items can be wiped clean with ease, making the bag far more convenient for everyday use. It is designed to offer a sense of confidence and ease, allowing you to use it in any situation without concern.

Woven in the Mikawa region, Mikawa cotton is a 100 percent natural cotton fabric with a gentle, comforting texture. Its softly spun yarns are woven with care, creating a fabric that feels supple yet retains a pleasant firmness. It offers excellent breathability and moisture absorption, and its comfort grows as it gradually conforms to your hand with continued use. This traditional Japanese material is made to support everyday life and to be used and loved for many years.

The previous generation of artisans, who were inspired by kogin embroidery, a craft known for the thickness and strength created by layering and stitching cloth, were able to achieve a major breakthrough, becoming the first company in Japan to succeed in producing sashiko weaving by machine, bringing significant innovation to the industry. Tanei’s sashiko fabric combines three yarns of different thicknesses, woven together to preserve the inherent strength of kogin embroidery while also achieving a unique balance of lightness and flexibility.

The quality of the fabric earned high recognition, and because of this, at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, our fabric was used for the men’s open weight judo competitors' judogi.

Mikawa cotton sashiko fabric is highly fire-resistant, and from the Edo period until recent times, it was used for firefighting garments known as firemen’s sashiko. The raised texture of the fabric makes it difficult for sparks to penetrate and helps prevent burn-through. It has long been trusted in harsh conditions as a fabric made to protect the body. Its strength has been passed down unchanged across generations.

From the Origins of Japanese Cotton to the Present Day

The story of this fabric begins in Mikawa, Aichi Prefecture, the birthplace of cotton weaving in Japan. According to early records, cotton seeds were introduced to the region in 799, marking the beginning of cotton's history in Japan.

Over the centuries, Mikawa cotton, woven in the Mikawa region, has been valued for its softness and strength, and has supported the daily lives of people, and its durability has been recognized, evolving into a textile used for judo uniforms. That same strength, able to withstand intense movement, continues to be carried forward today in many martial arts garments.

Even today in Mikawa, artisans continue to weave this sashiko fabric with care, and it has been formally recognized as a regional brand of Aichi prefecture. sasicco uses this Mikawa cotton sashiko fabric, the same material used for judo uniforms, and brings it to the world in a new form as a bag that embodies both strength and gentle comfort.

All design work, fabric cutting, sewing, and final finishing are carried out entirely by the artisans within our own workshop. Mikawa cotton has notable thickness and a raised texture, which means that machine processing can easily cause misalignment, so most steps are done by hand, with each piece crafted with care.

In order to cut the Mikawa cotton, which comes in bolts of 35m, it is folded by hand. Because sashiko fabric has a very fine, detailed texture, it cannot be handled with a spreading machine. This makes the work more time-consuming, but we continue to follow traditional hand-spreading methods. The equipment used in this process is no longer manufactured, so we maintain it with daily adjustments and careful upkeep.

The fabric that has been layered is marked against the pattern.
Any misalignment at this stage will spread through all twenty or so stacked layers, creating significant deviation. For this reason, the weave of the fabric is aligned with precision, and the work is carried out carefully and deliberately.

The cutting is done by hand, and the artisan must control the instrument while it vibrates strongly, while at the same time trying to make precise cuts.

Each piece is cut with care, and the craftsman studies the balance of the layout to ensure that material is not wasted. Thanks to this approach, only a very small amount of offcuts remain after cutting. Any scraps that do arise are not discarded but processed so they can be reused. 

In the sewing process, each part is joined with close attention to machine settings and stitching speed so the thick fabric can be sewn evenly. 
For the line processing on the belt material used for the handles, more than 70 meters of belt-shaped fabric is marked with eight evenly spaced lines. This highly detailed work is one of the clearest demonstrations of the artisans’ technical skill. In the final attachment, the stitching follows the weave of a judo belt, so the seams are less visible. Every step is carried out with care for how each detail will appear, ensuring a clean and consistent finish.

This process, in which thick and durable fabrics are joined with only a minimal seam allowance, is highly demanding and requires exceptional precision. Even the slightest deviation affects the finished shape, so the artisan advances the work slowly while checking the condition of the fabric at every step. Each stage is carried out with deliberate care to maintain consistent accuracy.

This bag is sized to neatly hold A4 documents, notebooks, and tablets. 
Inside, it features three pockets, including a large pocket for a B5 planner, a medium pocket that fits a smartphone, and a small pocket for business cards or other cards. The exterior features the same convenient side pocket found on the large model, ideal for items you want to access quickly.

Compact yet easy to organize, it blends naturally into both work and daily life. It is well-suited for the office, a café, or a weekend outing.

Special Thanks to Our Photo Locations:
– Greatest Hits— Instagram: @greatesthits_osu_ngo
– Sayulita Mexican Food— Instagram: @sayulitamex
– Panio— Instagram: @panio2014
 

Keep your bag looking its best for years to come！

How to Use

1.Remove dust from the surface using a soft brush or a dry cloth.
2.Apply the foam and gently clean the stained area.
3.Before it dries, wipe it off quickly with a clean towel or tissue.
4.Reshape the bag and let it air dry naturally.

Ingredients:Surfactants (4.5%: Lauryl Glucoside, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil)　/ Stabilizers / Fragrance

As a martial arts uniform maker, our bag-making journey started with a single craftsman, who, after making a kendo uniform, had leftover fabric, and from that fabric, they created a simple bag for their own personal use. That small handmade bag is the founding bag that became sasicco!

For the handle, we use the same material that is used for judo belts. The firm yet gentle feel in the hand carries the strength and softness we have cultivated through decades of making martial arts uniforms. The sasicco bag, from design to cutting, sewing, and then finishing, is made entirely in our own workshop. Each artisan contributes their own ideas, and then is built and refined upon until we can create a bag that we all can be proud of. Each thread has the heart of the craftsman imbued, with each bag being finished with care.

We take great care to use every part of our valuable Mikawa cotton sashiko weave without waste. When cutting the fabric, we design the patterns to minimize offcuts. Any scraps that do arise are never discarded. Instead, we repurpose them into items such as coasters, giving each piece of fabric a new role.

By using every part of the material, we honor both the environment and the traditional fabric itself. This approach reflects our commitment to thoughtful craftsmanship grounded in respect and responsibility.

For more than one hundred years, we have been weaving sashiko-ori fabric in the Mikawa region of Aichi Prefecture, located in the centre of Japan. 

The cloth once used for martial arts uniforms carries the strength of natural materials and the steady work of skilled hands. In an age where mass production and synthetic fibers have become the norm, we want more people to feel the warmth of natural cotton and the presence of true craftsmanship.

To share this tradition and its spirit with the world, we chose to give it a new form, a bag for everyday life. With that hope, we are launching the sasicco project on Kickstarter.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING SHIPPING TO THE US

Unfortunately, due to the President of the US's Executive Order, which has stopped the De Minimis Policy of allowing shipping items under $800 to enter without needing to pay for import taxes, shipping via Japan Post is temporarily stopped. This means that we are looking at other ways of shipping to the US. This will mean that the cost of shipping may become quite costly. The below chart will only show a rough estimate and may become more costly. We'll try to keep backers up to date in this regards.

For US Backers, we foresee that you will need to pay import taxes, however we don't know how much this will cost. We must insist that you pay these taxes, as if the items are returned to us, it will cost even more to resend the item. Please be aware of this. 

Shipping is collected through PledgeBox at the end of the project. Please be aware that your initial pledge doesn't contain the price for shipping. We have done this as the commission that Kickstarter takes is based on the total raised on the project, which would need to be factored into the shipping prices. PledgeBox has much lower fees and thus is the cheaper way to collect shipping. We ask for your understanding in regard to how we are collecting shipping fees.

Since there are more countries we can ship to rather than not, and Kickstarter doesn't have any way for us to distinguish what countries are exempt so we'd literally have to list each country we can ship to, we have the setting for worldwide shipment to be possible. However, due to global situations, there is a small list of countries that we unfortunately can't ship to at this time.

If you are living in the following countries, we apologize but we won't be able to ship to the following countries: 

Afghanistan, Bermuda, Russia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Paraguay, Bolivia, Malawi, South Sudan

Here at Tanei, for over 100 years, we have continued to preserve the traditional weaving of Mikawa cotton sashiko. However, throughout our history, it hasn’t always been an easy ride. Especially after 2011, synthetic fibers and inexpensive overseas products flooded the market, which in turn led to martial arts uniforms made with synthetic materials becoming a mainstream product because they were lighter, and so our commitment to natural materials placed us in a difficult position. But even with this difficult position, we refused to abandon the pride we take in sashiko weaving made with Mikawa cotton. We looked for a new way to carry this traditional material forward, and that search led to the creation of sasicco.

Our craftsmanship has been highly regarded, and our work has been selected as various gifts for visiting dignitaries and VIPs. In 2016, at the Ise Shima Summit, we created a press bag, and then in 2019, for the G20 Aichi Nagoya Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, we supplied the congress bags. Thanks to the support of many people, we are able to continue producing our textiles today. 

At the same time, the environment surrounding Mikawa cotton sashiko weaving is becoming increasingly harsher. We face numerous problems such as a shortage of successors, the number of sashiko weaving machines that are vital to operations continues to fall, and the work remains labor-intensive with low profit margins.
If this continues, the value and culture held by Mikawa cotton sashiko weaving are at risk of disappearing.

Schedule

Project Starts March 31st

Project Ends May 15th

Rewards Prepared Sept 2026 -November 2026

Rewards Arrive to Backers Jan 2027