Business · Companies · 22 hrs ago
Fukushima workshop makes leather goods from culled wild animals
Mina Kataoka makes bags and small leather goods at a workshop in Nishi-Aizu, a town in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
She uses hides from wild animals culled because they are considered nuisance wildlife.
Kataoka moved to the town in 2020 and opened her workshop and ZICA brand in 2024.
Fukushima still has restrictions on shipments of wild animals because of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and many culled animals are disposed of without further use.
Kataoka says using the hides helps avoid wasting the animals’ lives.
Each hide has different marks, colors and textures, so each finished item is distinct.
She also prepares raw hides herself, removing leftover meat and fat before they can be made into leather goods.
The products are sold at her Nishi-Aizu shop and through the ZICA website.
A workshop in Nishi-Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, makes leather goods from hides of wild animals culled as nuisance wildlife.
Bag maker Mina Kataoka says she wants to use every part of the animals and avoid letting their lives go to waste.
Kataoka moved to Nishi-Aizu in 2020 and opened Yamaami Kaban Seisakusho and launched her brand, ZICA, in 2024.
The workshop makes bags, wallets, card cases and pouches, including items that use traditional Aizu washi paper.
Restrictions on shipments of wild animals in Fukushima Prefecture mean many culled animals are disposed of without further use.
- Who
- Bag maker Mina Kataoka and her workshop, Yamaami Kaban Seisakusho.
- What
- The workshop makes leather goods from hides of culled wild animals.
- When
- Kataoka moved to Nishi-Aizu in 2020 and launched ZICA in 2024. The article was published on Oct. 11, 2026.
- Where
- Nishi-Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- Kataoka wants to use the animals’ lives fully and put their hides to use.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I want to make full use of every part of the animals without letting their lives go to waste.
Because they are natural materials, the longer you use them, the more character they develop, and they become 'partners in daily life.'
We don't waste life.
I want to give back to the local community through my work and share it with a wider audience.
Kataoka moved to Nishi-Aizu as a member of a regional revitalization cooperation team.
Kataoka opened Yamaami Kaban Seisakusho and launched her brand, ZICA.
Kataoka was photographed with products at the workshop in Nishi-Aizu.
Mainichi EN published its article about the workshop.
- Workshop
- Yamaami Kaban Seisakusho
- Location
- Nishi-Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture
- Maker
- Mina Kataoka, 37
- Brand launch
- ZICA launched in 2024
- Materials
- Hides from culled wild animals, including deer, wild boar and bear
- Products
- Bags, wallets, business card cases and pouches
Sources
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