Custom-made gloves made in Niseko using Hokkaido Ezo deer leather | Niseko Glove

He loves playing in nature and wants to have even more fun. These thoughts and ideas create new products and value. This time, we introduce one craftsman who was captivated by Niseko's deep powder, quit his job, and moved to Niseko Town to start a new life and career

Ezo deer become a social problem

In recent years, damage caused by Hokkaido deer to agriculture and forestry has become increasingly serious in Hokkaido. The total damage amounts to a staggering 4.5 billion yen per year. Hokkaido deer are native to Hokkaido, and there are currently about 720,000 of them living in Hokkaido, so much so that they can be commonly seen even in urban areas like Sapporo

Ezo deer have evolved to adapt to Hokkaido's natural environment, and are therefore physically strong and cold-resistant enough to survive the harsh winters, but they eat tree bark and other materials to survive the long winters, causing significant damage to orchards and other areas. Furthermore, by eating young trees and shrubs in the forest, they disrupt the balance of vegetation and have a negative impact on the ecosystem. Furthermore, in winter, there are frequent collisions when deer cross roads, which is also affecting the lives of residents

Approximately 150,000 Hokkaido deer are exterminated each year, most of which are simply discarded. It is true that Hokkaido deer pose a threat to human life, but from the standpoint of animal welfare, it seems a little sad that these animals, unique to Hokkaido, are treated as mere pests

In response to this unfortunate reality, one craftsman, driven by his love for Niseko, Hokkaido, wondered, "Is there a way to make effective use of these Ezo deer?" He created the "Niseko Glove" with this passion in mind

Hear from Niseko guide Mr. Furuichi (COYOTE)

STEEP first learned about Niseko Gloves when we learned that they are the gloves of choice for Ryuta Furuichi, a professional guide at Niseko's BC club, Coyote, during our annual autumn "Backcountry Guides' Favorite Gear" project. Here's what Furuichi had to say:

"Gloves made from Ezo deer are very flexible and easy to grip. And yet they're also extremely durable! Niseko Gloves allows for semi-custom orders, so I placed an order for this one, asking for something "based on earth colors, with a bit of a playful feel." Kamata, the designer and owner, came up with the leather color combinations, using mainly green and brown, with just the inside of the finger edges finished in a natural finish, which I enjoyed."

Furuichi is a guide who studied agriculture at university and moved to Hokkaido because of his interest in the natural environment and food. The Niseko Glove was exactly what he had in mind

I decided to quit my job and move to Niseko

"I got a job in Tokyo, but I couldn't let go of my love of nature. I spent my weekends climbing mountains and skiing. But it must be tough being a salaryman skier, only being able to go skiing on weekends. I seriously thought I wanted to move to Niseko to ski more, so I came to Niseko at the age of 35."

Satoshi Kamata is the founder of Niseko Glove, which has a workshop in Niseko Town. Kamata started his business alone in August 2022, about two years ago. It may not sound so unusual for a businessman from Tokyo to quit his job and start a business in the countryside, but in most cases it has a somewhat risky air about it

However, Kamata had firm convictions, a clear vision, and above all, a "trade." What was the process behind this?

"I'm originally from Akita. My parents loved the outdoors, so we were always camping, and from a young age I would go to the mountains every weekend in the winter. I loved nature as a child, so when I grew up I wasn't really keen on moving to Tokyo, and instead went to university in Sapporo. At university, I joined the basic ski club and took part in competitions, and was a very enthusiastic skier

Many students left Sapporo after graduation to find work in Tokyo. I somehow ended up moving to Tokyo as well. At the time, I was interested in manufacturing, so I got a job at a textile manufacturer, making polyester and other things. I worked as a salaryman in the city for 12 years, but after I turned 30, I wanted to live closer to nature

During my time as a university student in Sapporo, I started not only learning basic skiing, but also skiing in powder, in the forest, and on natural terrain. I realized that it was more fun to ski in places with good snow, long skiing times, and abundant nature. I thought that would be Niseko and Mount Daisetsu. When I moved to the area, I had already decided to make gloves as my job, so I chose Niseko, which is close to Sapporo and has a good image associated with gloves

Why gloves?

"I've always been interested in manufacturing, and even when I was working for a textile manufacturer in Tokyo, I continued to "make" things. Even after moving, I wanted to work in a job that involved making things, and I thought I wanted to make something related to my favorite sport, skiing. At that time, I thought that the smallest thing I could start with would be making gloves

Snowboards require large equipment and a huge number of intricate work processes, and while ski wear seemed like something I could use my expertise in, the physical conditions, such as space, were tough... When I looked into it, I found that at the time there were hardly any people making gloves in snowy regions, so I thought it might be a good idea to open a glove shop based in a snowy region. Also, I've always had small hands, so there weren't many that fit me."

Kamada, who moved to Niseko, used a system called the "Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team*" to gradually advance his glove business while working at the Niseko town office for three years, participating in town hall duties and town events.
"Halfway through my term with the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team, I was making gloves at home, and they had taken shape to a certain extent, so I rented my current workshop."

*This is a nationwide program run by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to promote migration to rural areas. It involves sending migrants from urban areas to rural areas, where they work in the area for up to three years and aim to settle down

"It's been exactly one year since we became a purely glove shop. Recently, we've had people from outside Hokkaido place orders and spread the word on social media, which makes me very happy. But what makes me just as happy, or even more so, is that since we became a purely glove shop, my original wish to just skate to my heart's content has been fulfilled in a big way (laughs)

Since I came to Niseko, I've been skiing about 100 days a season, but since I became a glove shop owner, I've been skiing the fresh powder every morning from 8:30 for two hours, then working hard at my workshop creating skis. This daily routine makes me very happy. At first, I mainly skied in Moiwa, but since last year, I've been skiing all over Niseko. I also do backcountry skiing, so I've been to the Niseko mountain range, Yotei, and Kiroro. In spring, you can ski plenty at Chisenupuri until May

Pride in the Japanese brand Niseko

Kamata's smile conveys his deep love for skiing and Niseko

"I wanted to highlight and communicate the essence of Hokkaido, and the uniqueness of Niseko, where skiing and snowboarding are so integrated into everyday life. I wondered how I could effectively incorporate this into my manufacturing

There were two reasons. The first was the materials. I thought it would be a waste to use imported materials when making products in Hokkaido. As a nature lover, I was always interested in topics and social issues surrounding wild animals. In recent years, the population of Ezo deer has become too large, and even when they are exterminated, they are simply discarded and not put to effective use. This caught my attention. I thought I would make gloves using Ezo deer leather

Another reason is that Niseko is home to a lot of people who love skiing and snowboarding. I thought that if I could be surrounded by people like that and create gloves together, saying, "I want this kind of glove," or "I want that kind of glove," then it would naturally become something that people wanted. When you ski every day, you naturally start talking about gloves, and you get a lot of opinions and ideas about how to improve them, and those ideas then become products

The reason we chose the name "Niseko Globe" is not only because it is being created in Niseko, but also because it is being created together with people who love Niseko. Living in Niseko, skiing in Niseko every day, and being with the people of Niseko. I think it would be good to do that carefully."

Ezo deer leather - this is usable!

The most distinctive feature of Niseko Gloves is that all the genuine leather used in their gloves is Ezo deer leather. But what exactly is deer leather? Cow and goat leather are often used in outdoor activities because of their balance of strength and softness, abrasion resistance, durability, and waterproofness. But what about deer leather?

"At first, I was skeptical about how durable deerskin would be, but I tried using it myself. Then, after a year of testing it with various people around me, I finally decided, 'This is usable.' At first, I thought that if deerskin alone was too tough, I could just use deerskin for the parts where it wouldn't be a problem, and combine it with goat or cowhide for the rest. However, it's actually more durable than I expected, and is soft, supple, and light too. Everyone who wears it is amazed. It's in no way inferior to cowhide or goat leather

In regular gloves, the thickness of both cowhide and goat leather is adjusted. Because the leather is always thin, it wears out quickly and develops holes, and guides and riders often complain that they end up using three or four pairs in a year

However, I use Ezo deer leather in its natural thickness. So, it's about 1.5 to 2 times thicker than regular gloves. It certainly feels thick. But the leather is so supple, you can use it without worrying about the thickness. Because it's thick, it's also quite durable. Because it's leather naturally contains a lot of oil, it doesn't lose its suppleness even when wet. Perhaps this is a quality that comes from living in Hokkaido's harsh natural environment. It's perfect for snow gloves, which are used toughly in the snowy mountains. Of course, there are some drawbacks. Being a wild animal, there are many scars, which can be a challenge for a craftsman. But the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, so I'm confident that Ezo deer leather alone is enough

If the value of Ezo deer is recognized and spread further, it will lead to more work for hunters. There are fewer hunters now, and they can't exterminate them all. Things that were previously simply discarded are given value and are reborn as things that people will cherish. This will give back to the hunters. In modern terms, this is sustainability."

Kamata laughed and said, "It's just a small SDG for Niseko Glove," but if the effective use of Ezo deer increases the number of hunters, it will reduce animal damage and maintain the balance of the ecosystem. Everyone will be able to continue enjoying their time in beautiful nature forever, which is a major contribution to sustainability

Amazing Tailor Made

Everyone has a different hand shape. Everyone has a different skating style and field. People have a variety of requests, such as wanting their board to fit their hand better, or wanting to choose parts that suit their style or field. In order to meet such diverse needs, Kamata currently focuses on creating "semi-custom-made" models, which are made to order one by one

"There are three types: mittens, three-finger, and five-finger, and there are also types with long and short cuffs. There are about seven different leather colors, and you can change each part individually, so you can change the color of just the back of the hand, palm, or side, or create a variety of color combinations to suit your taste

Since the thickness of the leather is not adjusted, male deer's large body naturally produces thicker leather, which makes it incredibly durable. At around 1.5 mm, it's nearly twice the thickness of regular leather. It has a heavy feel and is sturdy. On the other hand, female deer and fawns are smaller, so the leather is thinner, more flexible, and softer. Those who do a lot of ropework can increase durability by using male deer for the palm only, or use the thin, soft parts of female deer or fawn for spring use, and so on. This kind of tailor-made work is also possible

such as your skiing or snowboarding style, the shape of the boots, whether you prefer thick or thin leather, and
your favorite colors and combinations. Based on these requests, we can then suggest what kind of finish would be best for you."

At Niseko Glove, the outer glove (the actual leather glove) and the liner glove (the inner thermal glove) are separate and detachable. This allows you to customize each glove individually. The outer and liner glove can also be ordered separately. For example, by having multiple liner gloves with different volumes (thicknesses), you can use them according to the temperature

As each mitten is painstakingly sewn after receiving a customer's order, it takes some time to make. It typically takes one to two months after ordering, but there is also a service to shorten the delivery time (for an additional fee). Prices range from 22,400 yen (tax included) for mittens (short cuff) to 30,500 yen (tax included) for five-finger mittens (long cuff), depending on the shape and cuff length. Various options are also available, such as specifying the leather color pattern and logo color, changing the direction of the Velcro fastening, lengthening the fingers, and adding carabiner loop parts

"I plan to use wool for the liners in the future, but for now I am making them myself using synthetic materials that I apply myself. Originally I was a synthetic fiber manufacturer, so I have a strong understanding of the strengths of materials. Wool has the advantages of being a natural material, and polyester also has its advantages. I would like to be able to use both in our lineup. The synthetic fibers are domestically produced. In fact, I use synthetic fibers from a manufacturer where I previously worked."

What is the user feedback?

"People say it's incredibly warm. The liner is quite thick, and the deerskin is also quite thick, so it has excellent heat retention. It's soft and durable, and people who spend a lot of time in the field, such as guides and patrols, are particularly pleased with how sturdy it is."

Final message

"Everyone uses a lot of foreign products, doesn't they? But I think Japan is a great skiing nation with a long history of skiing. I think there should be more Japanese brands, and that we Japanese should promote our own brands more

The number of tourists to Niseko is increasing, but the number of Japanese visitors is stagnating. Japan has good manufacturers and a lot of great products, so I think we should make it so that people overseas think it's cool to wear items from our own country and go to Japanese ski resorts together

So, put on this "blessing" of Hokkaido and head out into the snowy mountains!"

Niseko Glove
Official Website:https://niseko-glove.amebaownd.com/
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