Samurai Jeans is a legendary Japanese denim brand renowned for its high-quality construction, heavyweight selvedge fabrics, and obsessive attention to detail.
Founded in Osaka in 1997 by Toru Nogami, Samurai is one of the “Osaka Five” – a group of brands that sparked Japan’s raw denim movement in the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Core Philosophy
“Denim as armor”: Inspired by Samurai culture, the brand treats jeans like a modern warrior’s armor. Rugged, durable, and full of heritage.
Focused on raw, unsanforized selvedge denim (i.e., shrink-to-fit), typically woven on vintage shuttle looms.
Almost entirely produced in Japan, including spinning, dyeing, weaving, and sewing.
And here are more notable details making the brand definitely unique:
Custom pocket flasher artwork featuring warriors or swords. Iron buttons, copper rivets, hidden arcs, and jacquard pocket bags with samurai motifs. Leather patches often depict warriors in battle or other feudal themes.
Prices range from ranges $280 to $400+, depending on the style and weight. Available via Samurai’s Japan store, Hinoya, Okayama Denim, Denimio, Standard & Strange, Corlection, Blue in Green (NYC), and Rivet & Hide (UK).
