Manabu & Keiko of Southern Field Industries
Meet our friends and husband and wife duo at Souther Field Industries, situated amidst hills in the Saitama region of Japan, where in a small workplace Manabu and Keiko produce handmade bags and other leather goods.
Let’s get the main ones out of the way...Who are you, where do you live and what do you do?
I’m Manabu Okada and am working with my wife Keiko at Southern Field Indsutries in Japan. We design and produce bags and accessories.
What is the favorite thing in your wardrobe right now?
Rain wear is the must during an early Summer in Japan. So my favorite right now is Stutter Heim’s rain coat that is made of waxed cotton.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I am definitely a morning person since I moved to this town in 2007.
As soon as I moved here, Keiko and I had adopted ‘Jasmine’ from local bleeder of labradors when she was 4yrs old. She loves to wake up at 4:30 AM every morning, and makes some noises until she gets her breakfast at 5 AM.
What advice would you give your 16 year old self?
Learn to play piano. But I’m sure my 16 year old self never listen.
Before I die, I’ll buy...
Ice cream
How do you approach fashion and getting dressed?
I prefer my clothing made from natural materials more than the ones comes from chemical fabric. I wear work shirt, denim and Birks almost every day. That’s my uniform at my studio.
Sneaker, runner or trainer?
Sneaker
What or where would be your last meal on earth?
I will cook Omu-Rice my self in my kitchen and will share it with Keiko.
What’s your poison?
Onsen(Natural hot spring bathing and with local meals in Ryokan)
Locals Only -Tell me something about your hometown that I wouldn’t read about in the guidebooks
Watching fireflies in early Summer nights by the Toki-river is amazing.