Cotton Day
May 10th is Cotton Day in Japan
Designated by the Japan Spinners’ Association, May 10th is “Cotton Day,” inspired by the Japanese wordplay “Ko (5) – tton (10)” and the fact that this season marks the peak demand for cotton clothing as summer approaches. As a specialty shirt brand devoted to materials, this day holds special meaning for us each year. At Kamakura Shirts, we have long pursued the finest cottons in the world—SUPIMA, SUVIN GOLD, and American Sea Island Cotton, among others. In 2024, we took a new step forward with the launch of the “Shimanami Cotton Project,” a domestic initiative to grow cotton right here in Japan, starting from the raw material. Because shirts touch the skin directly, we believe that choosing the finest materials is the key to creating garments of true quality.
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Shimanami Cotton Project
In 2023, Kamakura Shirts began trial cultivation of “extra-long staple cotton,” considered one of the highest-grade cotton varieties, at the Shimanami Cotton Farm in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Grown with great care and using environmentally conscious, organic methods, the cotton was harvested for the first time in the fall of that year. We named it Shimanami Cotton.
A year later, in 2024, this cotton was carefully spun, woven, and sewn—all within Japan. The result is a dress shirt that is truly ALL MADE IN JAPAN.
From planting the cotton seeds to crafting it into a shirt, every step of this project has been carried out with Japanese craftsmanship and technology. It reflects our hope for the future of Japan’s textile industry and our desire to revitalize regional manufacturing.
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