"Ponte" is located on the corner of a road in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture. When you enter the store, which means "bridge" in Italian, you will find a wide variety of small leather goods, from wallets to bags. Mr. Kenji Yokoyama and his wife Kayo, who run the shop, welcome the customers. Their reputation spread by word of mouth without advertising, and now customers from outside the prefecture come to buy their products.
"We make each item while thinking of the customer's face," says the couple. Each piece is made to order. Full order and semi-order based on samples are also possible, and customers can decide the type of leather, the color of thread and fastener, engraving, etc. Kenji says that there is a certain belief behind this emphasis on communication with customers.
"Leather is made by receiving the life of animals. We want to express gratitude and respect to the animals." That is why we create products that can be used for a long time. So facing each customer directly is important to us. To be a "bridge" that connects life to users.