OpenTube

How Japan Makes Millions from Horse Butts

Andrew Fraser

96,161 views

The horse butt: cheap, ignored, discarded. But in Japan?
It’s transformed into leather worth thousands of dollars.

In this episode, we go inside the factories and workshops where raw horsehide becomes elite wallets, jackets, and handmade shoes — some of the most expensive leather goods on the planet.

From scraping dirty hides… to polishing flawless shell cordovan… to ending the journey by tasting raw horse meat — this is the extreme transformation of a “worthless” animal part into a luxury fortune.

Huge thanks to our Japanese Leather Masters:
Y’2 Leather Jacket Store: Instagram: y2leather_official
Shinki Hakaku Company: Instagram: shinki_hikaku_co
Cordovan Shoemaker - Ken Hishinuma: Instagram: khish_ken

🎥 Credits
Host: Andrew Fraser
Editor: Alex Victor
Producer: Xuan Le
Fixer: Miyu

20 Comments

@pierorago5651 10 months ago

why isnt andrew getting more views youtube? this is great content.

@yoinky 9 months ago

Ngl Drew, i watch Sonnys vids when i wanna have some light hearted fun, but i watch your vids when i actually want to learn something interesting. I like your deep dive style. It caters to a more mature audience. Sonny is Andrew Zimmern mixed with Alton Brown. Youre Anthony Bourdain mixed with Vice docs back when they werent shit.

@Al-cb4hf 10 months ago (edited)

This is the original product that deserves that price unlike prada and their sis scammers😂

@brucewayne2773 10 months ago

It’s awesome that you brought awareness to how versatile a horse can be used. I had no idea about the other uses for it👍. Great cohost and translator, she’s awesome 👏 🙏

@SW-hu7qw 9 months ago

The cleanest tannery I have ever seen. Japan does things on another level

@leehaseley2164 10 months ago

Back when the army still ran a horse track here in Chiang Mai, whenever a horse took a fall, my dad (father-in-law) would get a call and we would have horse meat. Some would be grilled fresh, half would be spiced, sun-dried, and smoked to be crispy fried later. Absolutely DELICIOUS. I also remember, as a child with my grandparents, enjoying horse steak and fried egg on the island of Mallorca. ❤❤❤
I would absolutely be all over horse sashimi.

@unknownspectre 9 months ago

Shinki's leathers are amazingly beautiful overall, but when it comes to shell cordovan specifically, I prefer Horween.

Anyway, awesome video. I've lived in Himeji for a few months now, and knew that the city is famous for leather goods, but did not realize Shinki Hikaku is right in my backyard, literally just 2 miles from my home

@8rlx0 10 months ago

6:20 For the violin bow I'd imagine, not strings

@easyislander 9 months ago

Amazing story. I lived and went to school in Hokkaido and my classmate was a horse meat farmer. Now I can understand how why his family was so rich.

@kenneybis1097 9 months ago

Cordivan, all the look, feel and beauty of vinyl at merely 1,000 times the cost.

@wackyruss 8 months ago

In Kazakhstan, horse meat (Конина) is highly prized. I’ve had horse steak at high end restaurant in Kaz as well as horse sausage called “Kazy”. They love horse meat in Kazakhstan!

@Pepe-dq2ib 10 months ago

I think those expensive traditional kindergarten backpacks are also made from horse hide. They can be very expensive, but also very durable and can be handled down generations.

@grapicusdrinktus 10 months ago

24:25 Agreed, like we keep rabbits separated based on purpose (breeding, pets, food, etc.) it's not hard to put horses in the same category.
Doubly so when you remember how mean horses are.

@ayoorchethan 10 months ago

😂😂😂😂 Horse's ass 😊 Japan: "You think it,they have it" 😂😂 They're just too much. 🔥⭐👏👍🎉

@eldorado1244 10 months ago

I have a wallet made from horse butt which lve had almost 25 years, it’s like new

@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135 10 months ago

Idc what anyone says, the best products are made by hand and master.

@kelliqh2721 10 months ago

Hi Andrew... 500 horses were "Culled" in an Australian community recently. newborn foals left.
No plan for meat, hide etc... Just orphaned babies.

@mikewebsdale4777 10 months ago

A whole new perspective. Thank you

@agnosticbeliever138 10 months ago

Another really great video. You've just keep them coming! Nice job Andrew. You are a true journalist.

@ElChris816 10 months ago

I'm not into leather clothing, but I can appreciate the tremendous artistry that goes into these jackets and shoes. The cost is high, but this is all small batch, high quality products. Great project Andrew.