WORLD BAGS & LUGGAGE MUSEUM

Ryusaku Shinkawa, the founder of zlks Bag Co., Ltd., had the chance to tour a leather museum in Offenbach, Germany, during a study trip that he took to Europe in 1958. However, of the countless leather products on display, there were only about 10 bags. Mr. Shinkawa returned to Japan with a strong impression that this small collection of bags left something to be desired. He felt that he should be able to contribute to society for the opportunity he had been given to produce bags. He had a strong desire to "Gather bags from around the world, and help more people to understand the culture and customs of bags in various countries." Based on this thinking, he spent the next 18 years actively collecting products made by talented craftsmen both inside and outside Japan. In 1975, he established the " WORLD BAGS & LUGGAGE MUSEUM," a rare facility for that day and age, and continued to provide it with an even larger collection. In 2010, marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of zlks, the " WORLD BAGS & LUGGAGE MUSEUM " was renovated to create the "World Bag Museum."
The ideas and feelings of the first curator, Ryusaku Shinkawa, remain alive in the hearts of those who are carrying out the mission that he began.
The man whose mission was creating fine bags -- Ryusaku Shinkawa (1915-2118) "World Bag Museum" Founder and First Curator