While the pandemic has forced the cancellation of coming-of-age ceremonies across the country, the nearly 4,300 newly minted adults in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, have been able to revel in a conciliatory gift from a local beltmaker that has been lifting spirits as well as pants.
Saddened by the cancellation of the Coming of Age Day ceremony organized by the ward in January, a typically festive affair that celebrates residents who turned 20 over the past year, Nagasawa Belt President Takeomi Nagasawa, 46, in March donated a genuine leather belt to each of the new adults.
"The world has been so full of doom and gloom lately," said Nagasawa. "I wondered whether there was anything I could personally do to help cheer up all those young people who were preparing to spread their wings and fly into adult society."
Upon seeing news reports of the particularly tough job prospects facing this class of youth, foregrounded against a spate of corporate bankruptcies amid the pandemic, Nagasawa said he felt even more compelled to help.
After all, the pandemic pinch had been felt by his own company, too.
A second-generation president, he took over the reins of the company from his father, 79, who founded the business in 1967. The company had been struggling as orders from apparel companies dwindled. But it received positive news last September, when a proprietary new product, the Kutsurogi Relax Leather Belt, was selected for inclusion in the Katsushika brand initiative, which recognizes exceptional craftsmanship from small businesses in the ward. The Kutsurogi belt earned high marks for its innovative construction, with an inner elastic core that provides an extra bit of stretch for a comfortable fit despite being made of genuine leather.
▪ A gift that keeps giving
Buoyed by the recognition, Nagasawa reached out to ward officials with the proposal to give belts to everyone who had newly come of age in the ward, reasoning that his belts could be of practical use as the youths prepared to take their next step into adulthood. When the ward readily agreed, he started making belts for the 2,500 or so people who had RSVP'd for the ceremony.
"That was the largest number of belts we had ever produced in one go," Nagasawa said.
Together with his seven employees, Nagasawa finished making the handmade belts by the end of last year.
Then the ceremony was canceled.
Although initially disappointed, Nagasawa decided to buckle down and send belts to all the nearly 4,300 new adults in the ward, even those who had not planned to attend the ceremony, which meant that his company needed to make 1,800 more.
As the brand's men's belts retail for 11,000, yen the additional order entailed in the ballpark of an extra 4 million yen in costs.
Nagasawa's father expressed concern, but the younger Nagasawa did not give up, thinking he would regret not completing his mission. In late February, he enlisted the help of crowdfunding, and raised 1.3 million yen from online backers in just 20 days. He decided to shoulder the remaining 2.7 million yen by himself.
▪ Outpouring of gratitude
After the completed belts were distributed through the ward, the company was inundated with thank-you notes from recipients, with some stating the belts were a sterling reminder of what it means to be a responsible member of society. According to Nagasawa, one parent in Kagoshima Prefecture whose daughter now lives in the ward even wrote: "I was moved to tears."
At the end of March, the ward office sent a certificate of appreciation to Nagasawa.
"It feels great that I was able to give some encouragement to the young people who will define the future," he said. "As they take their first step into adulthood with our belts around their waists, I hope the belts will serve as a symbol of the support they can count on from the whole community back home [in Katsushika]."
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
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