(if you want to see all the features and how many cards and cash it can hold, please watch the video)
Japanese wallets, we love to review them on our channel, but what if I showed you a Japanese-style wallet that was made in the United States?
In the past, we have reviewed Ezra Arthur’s cash fold deluxe wallet and in this review, we have their Japanese wallet. It has a nice raised lettering, “designed for life”. We got the wallet in the whiskey color, but it also comes in Malbec, Green, Navy, Jet Top and Jet. The Malbec, Navy and Jet Top come with a cream color thread. This is built for coins, being a Japanese wallet, which always has a primary use with coins. And of course, we have some options for cash and cards.
As for the details on this wallet, well, that is all there is, there might be a surprise or maybe not. The wallet has nothing on the exterior by way of a quick access card slot, while the interior is kept closed by two snaps, which maintain the wallet’s security. As we unsnap, we are immediately presented with the main pouch organization area where you can organize your belongings. The area provides two interior card slots that can both be used for cards and the rear one works best for cash folded once. The interior open pouch is maintained securely with a front lip. I think you can place cards there as well as coins. This is also big enough for business cards, SIM cards, or whatever it might be, and just as easily, it folds up and closes. This wallet measures 4 x 2.8 x 0.7” and weighs 53 grams or 1.9 ounces. Now getting into the good stuff, the company recommends up to 12 cards, cash and coins, but it would take a little bit for it to stretch out in order to accommodate that many cards. I inserted eight coins of various sizes, and you can add additional cards in the bottom and they will fit well. The cash fit well and the tall currencies, including the Euro and Yen, fit after being folded once. This is designed and made in the United States from a full-grain vegetable-tanned leather, and my guess is Horween.
There is no lining or glue or rubber, it is just leather, thread, and a couple of snaps made by Ezra Arthur. With this wallet, you have the finish side of the leather all the way through, including on the interior, and the sewing is well done.
It is all made hand by hand and the burnishing looks to be a very high gloss, but the thing I do not quite like is the edges which have a bit of a jagged feel to them and that is visible. I do not know if that was something that was done in the cutting, but I kind of prefer it to be smooth like the rest of the wallet. The wallet is on the higher side by way of cost like other Ezra Arthur products, but for all of their products, the high quality is unquestionable. This wallet can be carried in the rear pocket, but I would say, this belongs in the front pocket wallet. That is because of the bulkiness due to the coins you may carry, however, if you do not carry coins and you keep it as a cash and cards wallet, then I am sure the rear pocket would be fine as well. The wallet has no quick access card slot, therefore, you have to unsnap it every time you want to get to cards, you have to unfold it and get to the back. This is not very convenient, but if you are doing this for coins, in particular, all you have to do is open it and you have immediate access to coins. To access the front content, you do not have to get into the full wallet, nevertheless, since this is designed after traditional Japanese wallets, which always make accommodation for coin carry first, that is the primary function. If you watched the video, you would have noticed as I have been working with this wallet that it has a lip at the top that you need to fold over. It is not super convenient, but over time, this will become easier. Personally, I do not like to have to think about my wallets, but in doing so the design is perfect because once you wrap this over you can see how things are enclosed, and once this is snapped, everything is secure, including coins, nothing is going to fall out. If you have a tendency to carry coins, this is an excellent option, it offers a simple elegance with a lifetime construction
The final score of this wallet is 5 for quality, which is unquestionably fantastic. Price scores 2, because despite the great quality, it is pushing the price boundary for me. Features score 4 because it provides a great encapsulation of coins, cash and cards, and any other small items you want to carry. Usability scores 3 as accessibility is good for coins, but not so much for cards or cash, but the design of the wallet still deserves a three because you are not being tricked. With 4 for perception, the final score is 3.7 out of 50.
Inspired by Japanese culture, where wallets are designed to hold cash, cards and coins.
