Kōraku Matsuemon Kōraku Matsuemon, who revolutionized the sails that powered the Kitamae-bune (a type of Japanese sailing ship), was a legendary figure who lived in the same era as Takadaya Kahei, who revered him as a mentor. Born in 1743 to a fisherman in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture, he moved to Hyogo-tsu (present-day Kobe) and learned ship handling and business at his place of employment. He became the captain of the hand-operated ship "Hachiman-maru" belonging to Mikage-ya Heibei and became involved in shipping to the Hokoku region. His extraordinary talent as a seaman was recognized by the shipping company Kitakaze-sō Emon, and with his support, he established a shop in Sahe-machi, Hyogo-tsu, and became independent as a ship-owning captain. Starting in Hyogo-tsu, he traveled around the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan, achieving great success in the shipping industry. Based on his experience in navigation, Matsuemon improved the sails, which were a weakness of Japanese ships at the time, and created the "Matsue-mon sail." He generously shared this technology with his peers, improving sail performance and dramatically increasing sailing speeds, bringing about a major revolution in the shipping industry of the time. Furthermore, at the request of the shogunate and feudal domains, he dedicated himself to the improvement of various ports throughout the country, including Hakodate and Tomonoura. After successfully completing the difficult construction project on Etorofu Island, he was given the surname "Kōraku" by the shogunate in recognition of his achievements, and was even allowed to carry a sword. Matsuemon developed various businesses throughout his life with ingenuity. A familiar product is "Shinmai Salmon," a winter seasonal delicacy. He transported salt from Ako, processed salmon in Ezo (Hokkaido), and made it possible to preserve the salmon for the long voyage, generating profits. From these preserved foods from the north that have been passed down to the present day, we can see that the achievements of the Kitamae-bune shipowners are rooted in our lives as a culture. NAKASHI CARRY ON BAG - Canvas - The CARRY ON BAG was born from the original brand "NAKASHI," which was inspired by the work clothes worn by the many stevedores (port workers) who abounded around the canal in the heyday of Otaru Port, where many Kita-Mai ships were moored. This 2-way one-shoulder bag, made of lightweight canvas, uses the same "canvas" material that powered the Kitanenpai ships, and is designed to be carried by those who travel between ships and canals carrying heavy loads. This design was created with the image of a waitress in mind. The color lineup, reminiscent of indigo and persimmon tannin, which have been used to dye cotton since ancient times, evokes a sense of nostalgia, resulting in an item that is both simple and emotionally rich. NAKASHI Carry-on Bag
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