[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Vol. 16] Take a look at it, the final episode of YAMNAMI! And Ripa's future and a little bit of SENKIYA SHINMACHI [Brand & Shop Exploration]
written by yans
It was a very important event that I should have visited sooner, but it's no use saying that now, so I'd like to report on the new developments that will start with this final episode!
table of contents
To SENKIYA SHINMACHI!
We arrived at the SENKIYA SHINMACHI complex located in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, and inside this facility there is a small bag and outdoor shop run by Garage Brandt Ripa. What could have been faster? YAMANAMI, a shop run by Ripa.
The store will be closed at the end of this month! So, it can be said that he was one step away, but it's still in time for the final episode! This is also an emergency report. However, although physical stores will close, the e-commerce site will continue, and of course, Ripa as a brand will continue, so don't worry.
The car from a Volkswagen customization specialty store inside the facility made an impact, and it seems to be a very famous store for those who like things like that, with a lot of amazing cars lying around.
By the way, it is said that Kawaguchi, but it may be closer to the Higashi-Urawa area rather than the area in front of the JR station that everyone thinks of, so if you are visiting by public transport, it may be easier to get to the nearest bus from JR Higashi-Urawa Station, or by bus. It is easier to visit by car.
So, YAMANAMI has arrived. A big opportunity to visit the event was to meet GENTLE HIKER STAND 2025, a Mooka event in Tochigi, a while ago.
Past event reports can be found here
I would like to calm my mind and
It's a slightly strange space with multiple nostalgic buildings mixed in with it.
It seems that the time we visited was the season when other stores were moving and replacing, so there were some vacant stores at one point. The building you can see in front of you is a cafe with a general store and other items.
On the second floor stairs leading to the general store, there was a wonderful space selling tenugui, apparel and small sweets.
The cafe was also very busy.
The cafe is next to the CD and a stationery store! Maybe there's a cool encounter!?
I bought some small items at a general store, and the item was put in a newspaper shopping bag that was made by a local grandmother, which was a stylish one.
Now head to YAMANAMI!
Now that we've entered the store, it's certainly a small store, but it's a neat and easy-to-see space.
First, go in and look at the book on the top of your left hand.
If you slide it straight away, you'll find a bunch of other brand accessories selected by the store owner.
That's good thing about this is that you can see not only products as a garage brand Ripa, but also select items that are perfect for the owner's glasses!
The lower shelf is mixed with Ripa products, and the Ripa Square Stem Bag is located in the center, which can be attached to the handlebars of a bicycle, but is also an excellent product that can hold a 2L square plastic bottle.
There's a switch on the other side and a sacoche on the backpack.
With a wide range of other brands including Great Cossie Mountain, you can feel the depth of backpack brand Ripa.
We also have a lineup of elite clothing items.
Among them are YAMANAMI original items.
There were also blue bottle socks.
There was also an eno hammock.
On the top shelf are MiiR cups and bottles.
It is a convenient item with a Ripa bottle holder, a small hang pouch, and a small, but clip on the back so that it can be attached to various places.
The backpack series, the main Ripa product, is located in the back right of the store! As we will explain later, during the POP UP, we mainly sell orders, so both items can be accommodated.
This Ripa backpack is armed with the latest materials and modern interpretations, with this seemingly classic visual. I'm sure there are some people who will be impressed by the fusion! The finish is also beautiful.
In the center of the store, there are a lot of sacoche and accessories, and there's something that's been a hidden hit item recently.
Circle reflector for bicycles! Ripa's sparkling identity is that it incorporates leather into its products, with its visuals that seem unreflective at first glance and the popular design of Ripa's leather-like use, and I think Ripa's sparkling identity is that it incorporates leather into its products.Now, there are not many garage backpack brands using leather these days.
Gron is a shoulder bag that aims to be a shape that is intermediate between a tote bag and a messenger bag. This model is suitable for everyday use and travel, but this is stylish!
The bottom of this is a sticker, patch, a BROWN by 2-tacs Kasamayaki mug, etc.
When I turned to the left, I saw wax-like perfumes and incenses in front of the register. That's how it is, the store is generally completed!
Ask the owner Hiroe!
Here, Hiroe Taishi, the owner and representative of Ripa, appears, and we'll ask you all the usual things.
–When did Ripa start? -
I started as a Ripa in 2015, when I studied bag making at a vocational school for clothing, then started making shoulder totes for bicycles after talking to Yokohama from the outdoor shop Rimba, who I often went to at the time. As I continued to produce the products in 2020, I was approached by the owner of SENKIYA SHINMACHI, who I had been using at ordering events and other events, and started building a store.
–What do you think about your current state of mind?–
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Ripa, and YAMANAMI has decided to close its store operations in order to continue to produce new products and hold POPUPs. In the future, YAMANAMI hope to be able to take the time to face Ripa, focusing on online shops!
–Do you have any information about the most recent event? -
POP UPs and other events will soon be held at Ripa display orders in stores until the 27th, the last business day of YAMANAMI, and from August, the tool shop in Morioka in Iwate will be held from the 14th to 17th, and from August, events will be held at LUNETTES's new store, Yamahomo, in Tochigi Kuroiso, with a hat artist called Knock Hat Shop.
Ripa chose to close the store this time as a further step forward, which was another positive choice to evolve the brand. I'm sorry to say it, but I look forward to seeing what's going on in the future! It was personally touching to see that Rimba from Urawa, whom I visited a while ago when the brand started, was involved.
From past exploration stories
How did you like YAMANAMI/ripa. If you're even slightly interested, you'll still be in time! Why not visit SENKIYA SHINMACHI to bring the beauty of the physical store to your eyes?
YAMANAMI/ripa
・Business days: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and partial Tuesdays (actual business days: 19/20/21/22/26/27 this month)
・Business hours: 12:00-18:00
・Address: 715 Ishigami, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture
・ripa official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ripa_bags/
・YAMANAMI Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yamanami_store/
・ripa online shop site https://ripabag.stores.jp/
・YAMANAMI online shop site https://yama-nami.stores.jp/
SENKIYA SHINMACHI
・Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/senkiya_shinmachi/
Yans
A person who has grown into a gear lover and finally ended up writing on Gear Gin. He has been a tough gear enthusiast and loves modifying and making his own gear, and also loves outdoor events. We would like to place emphasis on brand exploration and shop reviews.
Read more
[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Vol. 15] Tokyo Kanda Edition Klättermusen Tokyo Jimbocho / Klettermusen Jimbocho, Tokyo! [Brand Store Visit]
[Additional notes available on 9/30] [OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Story Vol. 01] Gunma/Kiryu Edition Do you know? Outdoor Style Convenience Store "Tanaka Shoten"
[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Vol. 14] Nagano and Azumino Edition -YAU- Azumino Outdoor Gear & Equipment! [Store event information available for June 2025]
[Event Report] GENTLE HIKER STAND2025! @Tochigi Prefecture -MOKA-