Jean genius: how Kojima became Japan’s denim mecca www.theguardian.com

Thanks to traditional production methods that create high-quality, long-lasting jeans, Japanese denim has iconic status among “connoisseur denim heads”, who are prepared to pay £250 or more for a pair.
An hour’s train ride south of Okayama city, Jeans Street in the port town of Kojima is a hub of 38 specialist denim shops.
The first Japanese denim company chose the most American-sounding name it could come up with: Big John.
Big John is the godfather of Japanese denim, and is still a much-loved brandBig John is still going strong and, as the godfather of Japanese denim, is still a much-loved brand.
Jeans Street is about more than just shopping: it gives as much of an insight into craftsmanship and heritage as some of the country’s more famous attractions.