Ginza Motoji
Ginza Motoji is a kimono retailer based in the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan. Founded in June 1979 by Motoji Koumei, originally from Amami Ōshima, the company operates separate shops for women’s kimono and the industry’s first dedicated men’s kimono outlet, opened in 2002. The company is now helmed by Keita Motoji as of 2023.
History
Koumei Motoji established "Motoji Gofukuten" in 1979. The business was renamed "Ginza Motoji" in 1995 and incorporated in 1998. In 2002, the men’s kimono specialty store, Otoko no Kimono, was opened, reportedly the first of its kind in Japan.Craftsmanship and innovation
In 2007, Ginza Motoji introduced "Platinum Boy," a silk made exclusively from domestically bred male silkworms. The silk is praised for its strength, luster, and dye receptivity. This innovation earned the company a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize in 2015. Each bolt of Platinum Boy fabric includes a certificate listing all artisans involved in its creation—from silkworm breeder to weaver.Ginza Motoji also offers a participatory program called the "Platinum Boy Monogatari," where customers follow the full production process of their garment across a year, visiting sericulture farms, weaving studios, and dye workshops, and receive a commemorative book and ownership certificate.