What Japan Blue does

Japan Blue Co., Ltd. (株式会社ジャパンブルー) is a vertically integrated Japanese denim and apparel company headquartered in Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture — the recognized birthplace of Japanese denim production. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio addressing consumer and B2B segments: flagship premium heritage brand MOMOTARO JEANS (vintage-reproduction selvedge denim with 10-year warranty), the internationally-focused JAPAN BLUE JEANS, women's line URVIN, lifestyle/roomwear lines SETTO and PERMANENT BLUE, premium formal sub-brand CROWN LABEL (built on SHIN-DENIM), concept label SOULIVE, the textile B2B arm COLLECT (supplying ~1,000 domestic clients and ~20 international luxury brands across 20+ countries), and consumer food sub-brand JAPAN BLUE GARDEN.

The company's core technology stack centers on proprietary denim materials and processes: SHIN-DENIM, a fade-resistant material developed over 5 years with 2.5x durability and 80,000 abrasion cycles; traditional hand-dyed hand-woven denim using natural indigo; and weaving on Toyota G-type automatic looms (GL9) at its Kojima and Ajino factories. Production is vertically integrated from cotton yarn through weaving, sewing (Ajino factory), logistics (Ajino warehouse), and finished branded products, supporting consistent quality control and supporting premium pricing from ¥13,000 for entry-level cotton jeans to ¥225,000 for hand-woven premium items.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer retail (flagship stores in Kojima, Okayama, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Koenji, Aoyama, and Paris), wholesale distribution through ~140 domestic and ~100 international retail partners, e-commerce (own-brand stores, ZOZOTOWN shop since March 2018, Metapa metaverse store since March 2022), franchise operations (first Kyoto franchise August 2016), and event-driven brand engagement (Paris Fashion Week, KingPins Amsterdam, MAISON & OBJET Paris). Geographic presence spans 70+ countries and regions globally. The company is privately held by founder Hisao Manabe (真鍋寿男), with leadership transition to 刈田直文 (Naofumi Saita) as Representative Director, Chairman and President by 2022. FY2014 group revenue was projected at ¥3.7 billion.

Name

Japan Blue

Legal name

株式会社ジャパンブルー

Website

https://japanblue.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Japan Blue is a vertically integrated Japanese denim manufacturer and multi-brand apparel company headquartered in Kojima, Okayama, operating premium jeans (MOMOTARO JEANS, JAPAN BLUE JEANS), B2B textiles (COLLECT), lifestyle and food sub-brands across 70+ countries via direct retail, wholesale, and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Denim Apparel and Textile Manufacturing

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (3152), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (31525), Broadwoven Fabric Mills (313210)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Cotton (2211), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Denim & Bottoms Cut & Sew (Jeans/Trousers/Shorts) (IMAOAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denim & Casualwear Brands (CRAAAAAE), Denim & Casualwear Specialty Retail (CRAAABAN), Denim & Twill Fabrics (CRAAAMAE), Denim & Garment Wet Processing (Stone Wash/Acid Wash/Distressing) (IMAOACAI), Denim & Jeans Alterations (Hem, Waist, Repair) (HSAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Premium denim jeans
• Japanese denim manufacturing
• Selvedge denim apparel
• Denim textile supply
• Indigo dye products

Headquarters

HQ city

Kurashiki

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail Sales: Revenue from company-owned retail stores under multiple brands including MOMOTARO JEANS, JAPAN BLUE JEANS, URVIN, SETTO, CROWN LABEL, and other sub-brands. Includes physical store sales and e-commerce transactions.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution of denim products to domestic and international retail partners. Products sold through approximately 140 MOMOTARO JEANS domestic retailers and 75 JAPAN BLUE JEANS domestic retailers, plus international wholesale network.
3. Textile Manufacturing: COLLECT division produces denim and cotton fabrics for domestic companies (~1,000 clients) and international luxury brands (~20 countries). Supplies SHIN-DENIM material to school uniform manufacturers and other industries.
4. Food Products (JAPAN BLUE GARDEN): Indigo food business including AI MEETS CHOCOLATE chocolate products and AI KOCHA tea. Initial year target of 30 million yen in sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Japan Blue manufactures and sells premium Japanese denim jeans, apparel, textiles, and indigo-themed products through a multi-brand portfolio including MOMOTARO JEANS (premium heritage jeans), JAPAN BLUE JEANS (international strategy brand), URVIN (women's denim), SETTO (workwear), CROWN LABEL (premium formal denim), SOULIVE, PERMANENT BLUE, and COLLECT (B2B fabric supply). Production is vertically integrated in Kojima, Okayama, leveraging traditional craftsmanship and proprietary SHIN-DENIM fade-resistant material.

Product overview

Japan Blue is a Japanese denim and jeans company headquartered in Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture — the birthplace of Japanese denim manufacturing. The company operates multiple brand portfolio including core brands MOMOTARO JEANS (premium vintage reproduction jeans with 10-year warranty), JAPAN BLUE JEANS (internationally-focused strategic brand), and various sub-brands: SETTO (workwear), SOULIVE (indigo-themed), URVIN (women's), PERMANENT BLUE (lifestyle/roomwear), CROWN LABEL (premium formal), TEXTURE WE MADE (contemporary), and COLLECT (textiles). Additionally, the company expanded into food business with JAPAN BLUE GARDEN offering indigo-infused products. The company is known for innovative materials like SHIN-DENIM (fade-resistant) and operates retail stores across Japan plus international presence in Paris, Taiwan, and other markets. Operating presence spans approximately 70 countries and regions globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MOMOTARO JEANS: Premium Japanese denim brand originating from Kojima, Kurashiki, Okayama. Known for vintage-style jeans with 10-year warranty and domestic production.
• JAPAN BLUE JEANS
• SOULIVE
• SETTO
• URVIN
• CROWN LABEL
• JAPAN BLUE GARDEN
• COLLECT
• PERMANENT BLUE
• BLUXE
• BLUE WALL
• INDIGO HANDS
• TEXTURE WE MADE

Products and services

• MOMOTARO JEANS (桃太郎ジーンズ) Flagship premium Japanese denim jeans brand for fashion-conscious denim enthusiasts, featuring vintage reproduction models with 10-year warranty, fade culture appeal, and detailed selvedge construction from Kojima, Okayama.
• JAPAN BLUE JEANS Overseas-focused strategic denim brand offering Japanese-made quality jeans with international style sensibilities, about 80 bottom styles, recognized for silhouette lines in Western markets.
• SHIN-DENIM (シン・デニム) Proprietary fade-resistant denim material offering 2.5x durability and water repellency, used for school uniforms, suits, wall coverings, furniture, and automotive interiors.
• CROWN LABEL BY MOMOTARO JEANS Premium label featuring SHIN-DENIM material and hand-dyed indigo items for mature adults seeking denim for formal and business occasions, including suits from ¥69,800.
• URVIN (アーヴィン) Women's denim brand targeting 30-40 year-old American-market consumers, combining Japanese quality with Parisian sensibility and West Coast classic details.
• PERMANENT BLUE Lifestyle and roomwear brand offering pajamas, one-mile wear, cushions, and lifestyle accessories made with COLLECT denim fabrics.
• SETTO (セット) Workwear and functional apparel brand under the SETTO division, offering denim work pants and related accessories through retail and department store pop-ups.
• SOULIVE (ソウライブ) Indigo-themed brand showcased at European exhibitions and at the INDIGO HANDS concept store.
• TEXTURE WE MADE Men's contemporary denim and workwear brand under the SETTO division, offering modern interpretations of classic workwear.
• COLLECT (コレクト) B2B textile brand specializing in denim fabric planning and manufacturing, supplying premium denim and cotton fabrics to approximately 1,000 domestic Japanese companies and around 20 international luxury brands across ~20 countries.
• JAPAN BLUE GARDEN (藍食事業) Indigo food business producing indigo-flavored products including AI KOCHA tea, AI MEETS CHOCOLATE indigo chocolates (864 yen per flavor), and collaboration items for regional activation.
• INDIGO HANDS (インディゴハンズ) Indigo-themed concept retail store in Kurashiki Bikan district offering JAPAN BLUE JEANS and SOULIVE products with independent 'blue' concepts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue growth from 37 billion yen projection (2014) to expansion across 70+ countries with multiple premium brands
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Kansai High School (関西高等学校)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaboration for Japan's first denim school uniform using SHIN-DENIM material. School adopted denim uniforms as part of 130th anniversary reform, with Japan Blue providing material and design expertise for washable school uniforms.
• Toyota Automatic Loom Works (豊田自動織機)coreTechnology or Integration · 26 August 2014Partnership for G-type automatic looms (GL9) used in Kojima denim weaving factory. Toyota looms enable high-quality, consistent denim production. Multiple factory visit partnerships and internship programs with Toyota group companies.
• JEAN SCHOOL (Amsterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2014World's first and only denim school (started 2012). Japan Blue was first Japanese company to accept interns from JEAN SCHOOL, providing hands-on training in Kojima production facilities. CEO Manabe gave lectures at the school on Japanese craftsmanship.
• House of Denim Foundation (Amsterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Amsterdam-based foundation promoting global denim industry. Japan Blue donated hand-dyed hand-woven jeans to Denim City's Indigo Archive. Collaborative participation in Denim Days Amsterdam events and JEAN SCHOOL educational programs.
• JAPAN BLUE EUROPEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean subsidiary established by converting Paris office to formal legal entity. Manages European retail operations including Paris store in Marais district and supports European wholesale distribution network.
• Sanyo Garment Manufacturers (pattern making)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for SHIN-DENIM material applications in interior and industrial uses. Collaboration on DENIM WALL wallcovering products using SHIN-DENIM for architecture and interior design applications.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Iron Heart: Japanese heritage denim maker producing heavyweight selvedge jeans, originally for bikers. Competes with MOMOTARO/JAPAN BLUE JEANS in the premium Japanese denim segment globally, especially in the US/UK markets.
• TCB (The Craftsman Blue): Japanese selvedge denim brand operating from Kojima with strong focus on vintage reproduction and craftsmanship storytelling. Competes head-to-head with Japan Blue's heritage denim brands in domestic and overseas specialty retail.
• Warehouse & Co: Japanese premium denim and workwear reproduction brand with vintage cotton-spinning and shuttle-loom production. Closely comparable to MOMOTARO in product, price point, and target consumer.
• Evisu: Iconic Japanese premium denim brand founded in Osaka, known for hand-painted denim and strong Asian/global wholesale presence. Competes with MOMOTARO in the heritage Japanese denim category worldwide.
• Kuroki Mills: Japanese denim fabric mill producing selvedge denim for major brands domestically and internationally. Competes with COLLECT (Japan Blue) on the textile-manufacturing supply side.
• Kaihara Corporation: One of Japan's leading denim fabric mills, supplying premium selvedge denim to many Japanese and global denim brands. Comparable to Japan Blue's COLLECT division on the B2B textile-manufacturing side and a likely fabric partner/competitor.
• Pure Blue Japan: Premium Japanese denim brand also based in Kojima, Okayama, producing selvedge denim jeans with handcrafted finishing. Directly competes with MOMOTARO JEANS in the high-end 'Made in Japan' denim segment using similar shuttle-loom techniques.
• Samurai Jeans: Kojima-based premium Japanese denim brand focused on heavy-weight selvedge denim. Directly comparable to MOMOTARO JEANS in craftsmanship positioning, indigo dye tradition, and international premium denim wholesale.

Broad incumbents

• A.P.C. Paris-based premium casualwear brand with denim as a hero category. Overlaps with JAPAN BLUE JEANS in price positioning and global specialty retail footprint, but with a broader casualwear assortment.
• Levi Strauss & Co. Global denim incumbent and category-defining brand. Sets pricing, distribution, and trend benchmarks against which all premium denim brands (including Japan Blue) compete; also engages with Kojima heritage denim via Made & Crafted lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Japan Blue