A sturdy and lightweight wooden bag
Since ancient times, Yanase cedar from Umaji Village, Kochi Prefecture, which has been used as an excellent building material, is thinly sliced and layered to form a bag that is light, durable, and easy to carry your computer and documents with you every day!
The texture of natural wood is beautiful, and the longer you use it, the more flavorful it becomes.
Ease of use has been carefully considered, with a water-repellent surface treatment, natural leather handles, double zippers, inner pockets, and a removable shoulder strap (some types do not come with one), making it convenient to use in a wide range of situations regardless of the season or location.
Features of wooden bags
(1)It's lightweight, so it's easy to carry around every day!
Made from thinly sliced cedar, it is extremely light and convenient for carrying your computer and documents every day.
(2)It has a water-repellent coating so you don't have to worry about it getting wet!
This bag has a water-repellent coating, so you don't have to worry about it getting wet! If it does get wet, just wipe it dry with a cloth.
(3)A bag with the rich texture of natural wood!
The material used is Yanase cedar, which, among the many varieties of cedar, has few knots and is smooth, making it beautiful to look at and pleasant to the touch.
Because it is a natural material, the grain is different for each piece. Enjoy your own unique wood grain!
(4)The more you use it, the more flavor it will have, and you can enjoy its unique texture!
The more you use this bag, the more it will become familiar to you and the more the wood grain will come out. The rate at which this flavor develops is not constant, but the texture changes depending on how you use it, so the more you use it, the more you can enjoy an original texture that suits your personality!
1% of sales will be returned to forests!
This wooden bag is made from thinned cedar wood growing in the forests of Umaji Village, Kochi Prefecture.
Forests that are not thinned (cutting down trees at appropriate intervals) are densely packed and do not receive sunlight, which leads to poor tree growth and weakens the forest itself.
It is well known that in recent years, due to the decline of forestry, the number of forests that are not thinned is increasing and forests are rapidly weakening.
Therefore, the Umaji Village Office, where forests account for 96% of the village's area, is promoting a project to turn thinned wood into products and return the profits to the forests. This wooden bag is one example of this.
1% of the sales amount of thinned wood products will be returned to the forests and used for forest conservation, etc. This wooden bag is filled with the desire to nurture forests and protect nature.
Wooden bags were used at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit Secretariat!
At the 2008 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, wooden bags from Umaji Village were used in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretariat!
"It was a forum where environmental issues were also discussed, so we chose wooden bags because they fit the theme. This project is a unified effort by the village office and about 1,050 villagers, so we're very happy that so many people have sympathized with it." (Producer Ueji)
Flexible and durable! Yanase cedar has been used as a building material since ancient times.
The material used to make this bag is Yanase cedar, a high-quality cedar that was once valued at 30 million yen per piece, and is flexible and extremely strong.
Growing in a rainy region, Yanase cedar is resistant to moisture and has been used since ancient times as an excellent building material. Yanase cedar was also used in the construction of Nijo Castle and Edo Castle.
The bag is made by layering thinly sliced cedar in an alternating pattern and pressing it together. By making it like plywood, there is less risk of it cracking like a solid board, and it is even more durable, making it a masterpiece that can be used for a long time.
How Umajimura wooden bags are made.
This lightweight and durable wooden bag, made by laminating thinly sliced cedar with a press, takes about a month and a half to complete.
Furthermore, to ensure safety even if a child accidentally puts the product in their mouth, adhesives that meet the "Food Sanitation Act" standards are used.
（1）Cutting of cedar thinned from Umajimura forests
The thinned cedar (green wood) from Umajimura forests is first shipped to a timber yard within the prefecture. Then, at a sawmill within Umajimura, the wood is cut to 130mm x 130mm x 4,000mm and further cut to 2,000mm lengths at the factory where the product is made.
（２）Laminated Pressing
Four pieces of 130mm x 130mm x 2,000mm lumber are stacked and pressed together using glue and pressure from three directions. Laminating strengthens the wood by compensating for weak points like knots.
（３）Boiling
The four stacked cedar pieces are boiled at 90°C for 10 hours. This process removes excess glue and its components, softening the wood for easier slicing.
（４）Slicing
The boiled cedar is sliced into 0.5mm sheets using a machine similar to a carpenter’s plane. From four 130mm x 130mm x 2,000mm logs, about 200 high-quality slices are produced for use in products.
（５）Cutting to Product Size and Gluing
The sliced cedar is cut to fit the product size and coated with glue. Six layers are stacked alternately with opposing grain patterns. The glue used meets the "Food Sanitation Act" standards, ensuring safety even if accidentally ingested by children.
（６）Press Molding
The six-layered cedar is placed into a mold that matches the bag's shape and pressed with heat and steam to form it.
（７）Sanding
The molded veneer’s surface is sanded to smooth out roughness. Without sanding, the paint may appear uneven or blotchy. Craftsmen carefully sand each piece by hand, spending about 40 minutes per sheet.
（８）Painting and Waterproofing
The bags are painted in various colors (plain, tannin, brown, black) using urethane paint, followed by waterproofing for added durability.
（９）Sewing
The veneer is sewn together with fabrics like cotton canvas and genuine leather to complete the bag. Umajimura's unique technique allows direct sewing into the wood. "We even modify sewing machines to ensure strength," says producer Kamiji.
（１０）Inspection and Finishing
Each bag undergoes thorough inspection and finishing before it is completed.
Introduction of Wooden Bag Types and Colors
"Wooden Bag Monacca" Black SS
Luxurious texture with ample space for PCs and documents
This lightweight and durable wooden bag features a luxurious black finish with natural wood grain. The unique shine and grain vary depending on the lighting.
It fits A4/17-inch laptops and B4 documents without folding. The wide-opening design makes loading and unloading items easy.
Inside, there are zippered sections and pockets for notebooks, pens, and phones. The zipper allows the opening to expand up to 180 degrees for convenient access.
Additional features include secure Velcro closures to keep documents in place.
"Wooden Bag Monacca" Brown SS
Refined brown for versatile use
This lightweight, durable bag showcases a beautiful brown wood grain that suits business and casual use across all age groups.
The water-resistant coating, natural leather handles, double zippers, inner pockets, and detachable shoulder straps make it practical in any setting.
The brown shade highlights the cedar's natural grain, giving the bag a distinctive character that deepens with use.
It can store A4/17-inch laptops and B4-sized documents without folding.
It has been designed with ease of use in mind, with a water-repellent surface treatment, natural leather handles, double zippers, an inner pocket, and a removable shoulder strap, making it convenient to use in a wide range of situations regardless of the season or location.
The calm brown color with a beautiful natural wood texture makes this an exceptional item that will become even more tasteful the longer you use it.
"Monacca Wooden Bag" Plain, no shoulder strap
With its natural texture, it can easily hold a PC and documents!
The natural wood grain and natural colored canvas accentuate the simple and light wooden bag, making it a lightweight and durable wooden bag!
A4/17-inch laptop and B4 size documents can be stored without folding.
The bag is designed for ease of use, with a water-repellent surface treatment, natural leather handles, double zippers, and an inner pocket on one side of the interior, making it convenient to use in a wide range of situations regardless of the season or location.
Among them, the plain color is a popular color with beautiful natural wood grain and a more distinctive appearance with long-term use.
"Monacca Wooden Bag" Plain/Mocha, no shoulder strap
With its natural texture, it can easily hold a PC and documents!
The canvas and leather handles are unified in a calm mocha color, making this a lightweight and durable bag with a beautiful natural wood texture!
While retaining the gentle image of wood created by nature, the dark canvas edging gives it a sharp impression.
A4/17-inch laptop and B4-sized documents can be stored without folding.
The bag has been designed with ease of use in mind, with a water-repellent surface treatment, natural leather handles, a double zipper, an inner pocket, a removable shoulder strap, and more, making it convenient to use in a wide range of situations regardless of the season or location.
The bag has a beautiful natural wood texture and a tannin-like color that will become even more appealing with long-term use.
"Monacca Wooden Bag" Persimmon Tannin (Mocha) No Shoulder
With its natural texture, it can easily hold a PC and documents!
This bag is popular for its persimmon-colored wood grain, and is light, durable, and has a beautiful natural wood texture!
The canvas and handles are mocha in color, and the combination of mocha and persimmon gives the whole bag a gentle atmosphere.
It can hold an A4/17-inch laptop and B4-sized documents without folding them.
The bag has been designed with ease of use in mind, with a water-repellent surface treatment, natural leather handles, a double zipper, an inner pocket, a removable shoulder strap, and more, making it convenient to use in a wide range of situations regardless of the season or location.
The bag has a beautiful natural wood texture and a tannin-like color that will become even more appealing with long-term use.
A word from the craftsman
Wood products from Umajimura are one-of-a-kind products that can't be found anywhere else! In Umajimura, Kochi Prefecture, where forests make up 96% of the village's land area, products are carefully made from thinned wood using unique techniques. Depending on how you use it, the flavor will be completely different, so we hope you will enjoy using it and experiencing the texture of your own unique bag.
