May 11, 2026

TOKYO – Maekake waist aprons, which feature kanji characters and other designs in colors such as white, moss green and orange, have long been used as workwear by tradespeople. However, they have also started gaining popularity as familiar everyday items thanks to creative new designs from Anything Co., a Tokyo-based company that manufactures and sells maekake.

A wide variety of eye-catching designs are available, including collaborations with popular anime and movies such as “Ultraman,” “City Hunter” and “Godzilla.” Other designs include foxes drawn by overseas artists and a shiba inu dog wearing a spacesuit.

“I want to make them more accessible to young people and a part of daily life,” said Anything President Kazuhiro Nishimura.

Nishimura was born in Hiroshima in 1973. While studying at the Faculty of Commerce of Chuo University, he also studied abroad at a university in California. After working for a major food company, he started his own business in 2000. He has been producing and selling maekake since 2005.

The fabric is woven at a factory which was established in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, in 2019, using yarn sourced from various regions and looms with about a century of history. The designs are mainly printed, but when thicker fabrics are used, they are finished using a color-removal process at a dyeing factory in Tokyo.

Although Nishimura started out by selling T-shirts adorned with kanji characters, a chance encounter with maekake changed his path. “I was captivated by their centuries-old history and unique form,” he said.

Anything’s Shinjuku Gyoen store. PHOTO: THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN

He was also drawn to their superior functionality. The aprons provide firm support by tightening around the lower back, which helps alleviate physical strain when lifting heavy loads or working on one’s feet for extended periods.

In a bid to shatter the stereotypical image of maekake as just merchant attire, Nishimura expanded into international markets, including New York and London. The products have since gained acclaim for their lightness and pleasant texture. The company opened a branch in Paris in 2024 and currently does business in about 30 countries, he said.

The company’s lineup extends beyond aprons to include jackets, bags, pen cases and coasters, all crafted from durable maekake fabric. In line with the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, Anything is also spearheading a project to produce yarn blended with paper from orizuru (paper cranes) sent to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park from across Japan.

“I want to widely promote the tradition and culture of maekake and support the regions where the materials are produced,” Nishimura said.