Japanese Jeans Turn Sixty: Visiting Okayama’s Denim Capital, Kojima

An imported American 1960s Union Special sewing machine, capable of sewing rolled seams. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum)

The young women working in this 1970s jeans factory lived in company dormitories. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum)

The first Japanese jeans were manufactured in 1965 under the Big John brand. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum)

Betty Smith, Japan’s first women’s jeans brand, was launched in 1970. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum)

An advertisement for Betty Smith jeans from the 1970s. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum)

Stitching techniques passed down through generations are the secret of Kojima-made jeans’ comfortable fit. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum)

This unique sign greets visitors to Kojima Jeans Street. (Courtesy Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

This manhole on Kojima Jeans Street features a characteristic logo and orange stitching. (Courtesy Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

The street remains a popular destination for visitors. (Courtesy Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry)