Tanaka Hat Shop Anika Straw Hat

The popular actress hat type has evolved further

This is a new product, an updated version of Tanaka Hat Shop's most popular actress hat for women.
The silhouette, which gently frames the face, not only protects you from UV rays but also makes women look elegant.

The simple, wide ribbon is tightly cinched at the side, adding an accent. The elegant atmosphere creates a sense of cleanliness, resulting in a design that is easy for anyone to wear.
The long brim also casts a good shadow over the back of the neck, protecting you from UV rays.

Design incorporating customer feedback

When wearing a hat deeply, foundation tends to transfer to the sweatband. This can make the hat look dirty and cause discomfort.
This hat is intentionally designed with a shallow crown and a slightly smaller head circumference.

A hat that combines "design and functionality"

Normally, if you tilt a hat upwards to keep it off your forehead, the brim also lifts, exposing your face to the sun.
This hat is designed with the brim's angle and length carefully considered so that it still covers your face even if you wear it tilted slightly upwards.

Instead of wearing the hat deeply, it is designed to be worn shallowly, so that the sweatband is less likely to cling tightly to the forehead.

Tilting the front brim up slightly creates a more beautiful silhouette. This hat truly achieves a satisfying balance of "design and functionality."

Size can be fine-tuned with Velcro (up to -1.5cm)





"Straw" material with excellent breathability and sun protection

The material used is "straw braid" woven by hand from seven straw stalks.
While straw hats cannot be folded and are somewhat inconvenient to carry, they offer many unique charms. These include the natural feel of the material and its coolness.
Straw glimmers slightly in the sunlight. This is a unique characteristic of straw, as it is not an artificial material.

Its coolness is proven by the fact that many farmers still use it, and it is believed that the numerous invisible holes in the fibers of the stalk act as air holes after drying.
Additionally, because it is a slightly stiff material, it is useful for sun protection as the brim does not easily droop even when long.

Founded in 1880 - A long-established shop with over 100 years of history

"Straw hats" are a traditional craft of Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture.
Currently, there are few factories in Japan that can mass-produce them, and among them, Tanaka Hat Shop is a long-established company boasting over 100 years of history and tradition.

Straw hats are made using a unique sewing method where seven strands of straw are woven into one material, and each hat is meticulously sewn by hand in circular layers by artisans.

As a natural material, "straw" is breathable and ideal for sun protection, making it an essential hat for summer.
At Tanaka Hat Shop, popular straw hats for men and women of all ages are still carefully handcrafted one by one using traditional methods.

Sewing, where the artisan's tactile sense is tested

The straw braid, softened by soaking in water, is sewn using a hat-making sewing machine.
Sewing begins from the "crown" (called "uzu") of the hat, and proceeds by layering and sewing in a circular pattern.

The artisan carefully stitches, occasionally checking the size with a hat block.
The thinner the material, the more difficult the sewing becomes, and only a skilled artisan can create a beautiful shape.
Hats sewn with advanced skills are not only beautiful but also extremely comfortable to wear.

Local winter tradition: Kanboshi (cold drying)

Straw hats are sewn from autumn to winter in preparation for the following spring.
After the material is softened by soaking it in water, it is sewn, and then the finished straw hats are sun-dried.

This process is often carried out during the cold, dry winter months, hence it is called "kanboshi" (cold drying). The straw hats lined up across the ground have become a "seasonal tradition" in Kasukabe City.

Molding, giving the hat its individuality

Using a specialized molding machine with a metal mold attached, the hat is pressed and shaped with water pressure.
Depending on the design, the crown and brim may be shaped separately using different wooden molds, with each piece hand-steamed and molded.
With a wide variety of molds, it is possible to create hats of various designs by combining them.

Decoration

After molding, decorations such as sweatbands and ribbons are applied.
Everything is done by hand, and artisans meticulously sew on each accent ribbon.

Finishing

Finally, fine straw "splinters" are removed.
When straw braid is woven, the surface skin of the straw can peel, or buds may protrude.

If left as is, it can feel prickly and uncomfortable to wear.
For the wearer's comfort, each of these is carefully removed by hand, stroking the hat with the palm.
This is the artisan's thoughtfulness for the wearer.