Solving akebi basket woes with an inner bag. Leave it to us for concealing contents and preventing damage to your belongings

Basket bags are popular in spring and summer. Among them, the akebi (chocolate vine) baskets made by Miyamoto Kogei, woven from akebi vines, have long been a staple choice at ZUTTO. These akebi baskets, a traditional craft of Aomori Prefecture, have kept their timeless shape since long ago. You've always thought they were lovely, but wondered how practical they'd be as an everyday bag. Or perhaps you use one every day but find yourself being a bit careful about how you handle it. What we're introducing this time is an original inner bag that addresses exactly these concerns—the kind of solution that reaches right where it itches.

The concerns of using a basket bag day to day.

Basket bags have now become an item used year-round. Among them, the akebi basket—made with an elegant dark brown akebi vine and featuring beautiful weaving—is truly a basket bag made for adults. You may be interested in one but feel a bit uncertain about how practical it would be to use. The following concerns come up often.

Worried that the contents will be completely visible

Akebi baskets, woven from akebi vine into a three-dimensional shape, have an opening at the top that stays open. Many people find it concerning that the contents—including valuables like wallets and card cases—are left in plain view.

You have to be careful even when reaching your hand into the bag

Akebi baskets have no lining. Since they're woven from natural akebi vine, the inside of the bag is left with the bare akebi material exposed. While you can enjoy the natural texture of the material itself in an akebi basket, some people find it bothersome when the material touches their skin as they reach inside—even though it's not sharp enough to actually catch or snag.

Scratches you don't want on delicate items like leather goods or stoles

The things people want to carry in a basket bag are varied—everyday leather wallets and key cases, silk or linen stoles for early spring or air-conditioned rooms, cashmere mufflers in winter, and more. There's also the worry that over time, these items might catch on a small rough spot in the weave and end up scratched or frayed.

We created an original inner bag to solve all these concerns at once, so you can enjoy using your akebi basket more comfortably.

Use it comfortably, keep things in order. Introducing an inner bag made for akebi baskets

We created this original inner bag to make using an akebi basket even more comfortable. Inner bags for basket bags are hard to find on their own—usually you can only get one if you buy a basket bag that already comes with one included. This time, we made one sized to fit the akebi baskets from Miyamoto Kogei of Aomori Prefecture, featured here at ZUTTO. We recommend it both to those who already own an akebi basket and to those who are considering trying one out.

As the concerns above make clear, simply adding an inner bag to your basket bag makes a huge difference in usability. It prevents the contents from being visible, keeps the akebi material from touching your hand as you rummage through the bag, and protects delicate fabrics and leather from damage. There are also plenty of other thoughtful touches throughout for ease of use.

A style that hooks onto the handles, so it won't shift out of place

If you use a separately purchased cloth bag to keep your contents hidden, the bag can end up falling to the bottom of the basket and getting crushed, or its opening can slip down inside, making it hard to take things out. This can be frustrating when you can't retrieve something quickly. But this inner bag has loops that hook onto the basket's handles, so it won't sink down inside. The opening always stays at the top of the basket bag, making it easy to take your belongings out.  

The bag's opening can be tied like a ribbon, or tucked inside

The opening of the inner bag can be cinched shut with the fabric to conceal what's inside. The fabric hanging down on either side looks just like a ribbon—quite charming. And if tying it every time you take something in or out feels like a hassle, simply draping the fabric over loosely still looks put together, which is a nice touch.

Made from cotton canvas with just the right firmness and just the right softness

We chose No. 11 canvas, one of the thinner weights of cotton canvas. When considering how the fabric would be used as an inner bag, we needed something with "just the right firmness and just the right softness"—and this No. 11 canvas met that condition perfectly. The inner layer of fabric uses an even thinner cotton.

Practical colors that shape the impression of your akebi basket

The colors come in two options: black and gray. Black gives a crisp, sharp edge to the natural look, while gray lends a gentler impression. For this gray shade, we deliberately chose a fabric with a difference in tone between the front and back, so you can enjoy the subtle contrast in color when the opening is tied shut.  

In addition, the mustard and turquoise colors also pair beautifully with the deep brown of the akebi basket.

Choosing the right combination of akebi basket and inner bag

We've prepared the inner bag in S and L sizes so that it fits perfectly with the akebi baskets featured at ZUTTO. Designed to fit various basket shapes, which size suits which basket? Let's take a look.

The S size has no gusset, keeping it compact

The S size is a compact type with no gusset. It's the perfect size for akebi baskets that don't have much height.

From left: Akebi Basket (Tsumadobari Hora Weave, Ring Handle), Akebi Basket (Trapezoid Plain Weave), Akebi Basket (Thin Double Hora Weave)

With little height, this akebi (Japanese chocolate vine) basket gives off a compact, charming impression. It's a perfect size not only for weekend outings, but also for hanging out with friends or pairing with a yukata for summer festivals and fireworks displays.

When we actually tried putting things inside, it was large enough to hold the basic essentials—a smartphone, coin case, cosmetic pouch, and handkerchief. With the Tsudouhari-hora-ami (ring handle) and thin double-hora-ami styles, it's even big enough to fit a 350ml plastic bottle.

Bag: Akebi Basket (Tsudouhari-hora-ami, ring handle), Inner bag: Inner Bag (S/Gray), Sandals: Gurkha Sandals Black, Necklace: Necklace 1641

Bag: Akebi Basket (thin double-hora-ami), Inner bag: Inner Bag (S/Black), Top: Linen Pullover Shirt (SAND), Sandals: Leather Sandals W1628 TERRA

Bag: Akebi Basket (trapezoid nami-ami), Inner bag: Inner Bag (S/Gray), Bangle: Snake Design Bangle/196 (ORANGE)

The L size is an all-purpose champion that holds plenty

The L-size inner bag has generous capacity, making it the perfect fit for akebi baskets that have both height and depth.

From left: Akebi Basket (Tsudouhari-hora-ami, wrapped handle), Akebi Basket (Douhari-hora-ami, guni handle)

These roomy akebi baskets can hold so much that, depending on the size, items may peek out slightly—they're even large enough to fit an upright water bottle or a folding umbrella. The Akebi Basket (Tsudouhari-hora-ami, wrapped handle) has a charming rounded shape, while the Akebi Basket (Douhari-hora-ami, guni handle) offers a practical, horizontally rectangular design. These are wonderful choices not only for everyday use, but also as an outing bag for excursions.

At this size, you can fit a smartphone, long wallet, cosmetic pouch, and a water bottle of around 500ml. There's even room left over for a sweat towel.

Bag: Akebi Basket (Tsudouhari-hora-ami, wrapped handle), Inner bag: Inner Bag (L/Gray), Top: Open-Collar Shirt (CHARCOAL), Sandals: Gurkha Sandals Bio

Bag: Akebi Basket (Douhari-hora-ami, guni handle), Inner bag: Inner Bag (L/Black), Bangle: Snake Design Bangle/196 (ORANGE)

Of course, as long as the size matches, this inner bag can be used with other basket bags too. Now let's take a closer look at Miyamoto Kogei's akebi baskets, which fit so perfectly and are such a pleasure to use.

The Appeal of Miyamoto Kogei's Akebi Baskets

Akebi Basket (round basket, single handle)

Miyamoto Kogei's akebi baskets are made generously using high-quality akebi vines harvested in Aomori Prefecture. The vines are gathered from the mountains in spring and autumn, then sun-dried for about a week before being soaked in water for several days and finally woven—resulting in a tightly packed, very sturdy weave. The entire process is done by hand, without relying on machines. Akebi craft requires great skill and strength for weaving, and due to changes in the natural environment, the amount that can be harvested each year is decreasing, making the material increasingly precious and harder to gather. As a result, baskets woven from this akebi are becoming ever more valuable. Nothing harvested goes to waste—even vines with darker coloring are carefully used in inconspicuous places like the bottom of the basket. With the number of craftspeople having drastically declined, the akebi basket has become a rare traditional craft.

The more you use an akebi basket, the richer its texture becomes, developing a beautiful sheen and improving in condition over time. High-quality, natural akebi craft, if cared for well, can last for decades—truly a lifelong companion. It's a piece that grows more beloved with every passing year.

New Akebi Baskets for Spring and Summer

Basket bags take on different expressions and moods depending on the weaving technique, and all of the new arrivals for spring and summer are made using a technique called "hora-ami." In this weave, the horizontal vines are threaded two at a time through the vertical vines, creating a design-forward pattern that looks almost like diagonal stripes. The body of the basket also flares out slightly, so the opening is wide and easy to reach into—a nice practical touch as well.

【Akebi Basket (Tsudouhari-hora-ami, ring handle)】

Despite its compact, rounded size, this basket makes a real statement simply by being carried, becoming a focal point of any outfit. The handle is a round ring wrapped in akebi vine, which serves as a charming accent point as well.  

【Akebi Basket (Tsudouhari-hora-ami, wrapped handle)】

With its charmingly rounded form, this basket becomes a striking accent to any outfit simply by being carried. Its soft, gentle atmosphere is another distinctive feature not found in akebi baskets with angular shapes.

【Akebi Basket (Douhari-hora-ami, guni handle)】

A practical, horizontally rectangular design. The long handle also allows you to carry it over your arm. The handle features a charming braided design (three-strand braiding, called "guni" in the Aomori dialect) that connects up from the bottom of the basket.  

The Bestselling Favorites

These are the popular akebi baskets that ZUTTO has been featuring for many years. Every one is easy to use and full of appeal—the kind of basket that makes you want to own one for yourself.

【Akebi Basket (ori-ami, woven pattern)】

The Akebi Basket (ori-ami) is distinguished by its shape, with sides that curve slightly inward as if gently pinched. It features a beautifully flowing weave pattern and a smooth, distinctive silhouette—a piece that's every bit as practical as it is elegant.

【Akebi Basket (trapezoid nami-ami)】

The Akebi Basket (trapezoid nami-ami) is charmingly distinguished by its round handle. Its stable shape is woven using nami-ami, the basic weaving technique for akebi baskets, and its decorative rim weave adds a lovely finishing touch.

【Akebi Basket (Thin Two-Rod Hora Weave)】

The akebi basket (thin two-rod hora weave) has a straight, upright shape, with a handle formed like a bow turned on its side. It is woven using a technique called hora weaving.

【Akebi Basket (Round Basket, Single Handle)】

The akebi basket (round basket, single handle) is a ZUTTO original design, made especially for us by Miyamoto Kogei. It's a round, adorably shaped basket that makes you want to think about all the places you could take it.

▽The inner bag shown here