Classy, simple, and durable

Oblong Wallet solid colour Long Wallet

Brand: AYANOKOJI

Price: 6985 yen

Place of purchase: Ayanokoji store on Amazon Japan

Rating:

On walks through the back streets of Harajuku, I was drawn to specialty shops. Friends recommended some, but I also found others that appealed to me. I came across Ayanokoji, an artisan who creates wallets and bags made from traditional Japanese fabrics. This "nagasaifu," a long wallet, is 23 cm long, so it accommodates Japanese bills without folding. You can tuck your cards into the 12 folds on either side of the "gamaguchi," frog mouth coin purse. It's large enough to carry a smartphone. I squeeze a hanko case and small purchases into this wallet.

I've been using this long wallet with a leather strap for about a month, and I'm as happy with it as my first Ayanokoji item. The exterior is with #8 canvas, a densely woven textile. It resists stains and dirt. The inside is capacious, large enough to hold bills without folding. The coin section is "gamaguchi", with a classic clasp. The wallet opens out quite flat which lets you get at small items. My only regret is I didn't splurge on a more "wafu" version with a classic Japanese pattern. Nevertheless, I have confidence this purse will hold up well for years.