About Koshu Inden
Koshu Inden is a leather craft from Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, featuring deer hide decorated with lacquer patterns. Said to have been founded in the early Edo period by Inden-ya (Uehara Yushichi) in Kofu, it is known as a craft associated with Takeda Shingen's Koshu. The technique is unique: deer hide is smoked and softened, then lacquer patterns are applied using stencils. Representative products include wallets, bags, and small accessories combining the lightweight durability of deer hide with lacquer patterns. The tradition continues today centered on Inden-ya in Kofu.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
Materials
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.