FILE 006:Samurai 15oz S003JP “Yamato” Denim -- 10 Months of Wear

This pair of Samurai 15oz S003JP “Yamato” denim was worn by our Melbourne store manager, Ray. As he recalls:

“This was my very first pair of Japanese denim — a Samurai Jeans design inspired by the vintage Lee Jeans 101. Back then, I had never seen another Japanese denim that carried such an elegant touch while staying true to the Lee Jeans heritage. Almost a decade ago, I told myself, I have to give these a try.”

As Ray shared with us:

“I started wearing them back in 2017 — that was when I had just joined the CORLECTION Melbourne store as a part-time staff member. To be honest, I was nervous. I knew I was a huge fan of Japanese denim, but I wasn’t sure if I could truly become a good part of the CORLECTION Universe. So I prepared two iPhones for myself — one for daily life, and one solely for recording every detail of the products. Lee joked, ‘Why do you act like Kevin Gates? You’ve got two phones — one for The Plug, and one for The Load.’ Lol~”

“Yamato — short for The Spirit of Ancient Japan. I believe Nogami-san, the founder of Samurai Jeans, poured a great deal of faith into this design. I love the pure silver thread in the selvage ID and the pure silver-coated iron buttons. With time, they shine like the Glory of Yamato!”

“The natural tan full-grain, ‘Wagyu-level’ embossed cowhide leather patch has aged into a deeper brown, developing a special sheen over time. Its texture now feels reminiscent of a woodblock print — like a piece of traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e.”

“If you’re a true fan of Samurai Jeans, I believe you’ll be fascinated by the design of their arc stitching. I’ve always loved this Lee Jeans–inspired detail — it was the main reason I chose this pair. As Lee describes, it’s the ‘Art of Unbalanced Balance’: like chi (air) flowing in rises and falls, eventually forming a circle — just like life itself.”

“When I experienced some downtime, the design of the jacquard inner pocket reminded me — Would you blossom like this ‘Indigo Sakura’ with time?”

“I hand-washed and gently machine-washed this pair of ‘Yamato’ denim every month. Lee suggested that I wash them naturally and focus on how a natural fade feels — not just how it looks. As a result, the honeycomb fades behind the knees aren’t strong, but I truly enjoyed this natural process throughout the next 10 months of wear.”

“I gave this pair of ‘Yamato’ denim ten months of my time — and she gave me a lifetime memory in return. Once you begin to understand this ‘silent communication’, you start to appreciate YAMATO — truly, and fully.”