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Tenjin rocks!

newtojackets

One Too Many
Messages
1,332
Thanks @red devil, @barnabus, @sweetfights, @jerez and everyone else that had interest! The jacket arrived and here's some details to help anyone else that might be considering a Tenjin. I'll try to take some better photos when I get a chance (the first photo is especially bad in terms of reflecting what it actually looks like, the color and shape look very off in that photo).

Firstly, I found Tenjin very easy to deal with. There ended up being quite a bit of back and forth (due to my asking questions) and they were always very helpful with recommendations on sizing and so forth. I never ran into any misunderstandings due to language or any other reason. Sizing of the jacket was entirely expected too. I was bracing myself for Japanese small-than-you-might-be-expecting sizing but my jacket is a 42 and fit exactly as I'd have expected from a US or European brand. Also the added length (the only customization other than color) was spot on. I would be surprised if anyone had an issue getting a jacket to fit through Tenjin.

The leather itself is incredible. It's substantial, the cow hide is noticeably weighty but also very soft. I'd say the leather surface is 'perfect' by which I mean whilst there's plenty of grain and character there are no spots where the variations approach what visibly might look like a flaw. Similarly the color appears very evenly applied and there are no scuffs on the jacket. The hardwear gets the job done, looks good and the zippers slide a lot more easily than other leather jackets I've had (read, not reproduction Talon zippers!)

The construction is again excellent. Two things that are less than ideal about my Aero are that the lines of stitches are not a consistent distance from the edge of the jacket and also there seems to be quite a lot of leather in a rectangle behind the pocket openings which really starts to show through with wear. I always wondered whether the pockets just had to be like that and the construction just wouldn't be sturdy enough with only a small amount of 'hidden' leather at the pocket. It wasn't until I had (albeit a for a short amount of time) a Good Wear that I realized you could actually finish the pockets with a small amount of leather behind the opening and so not effect the surface of the jacket. The Tenjin pockets are very similar to the Good Wear, there's not enough doubled up leather on the pocket to effect how the jacket will wear in. The stitching is spot on, a consistent distance from the edge of the jacket and appears completely straight (or following the curve of the jacket at the collar etc). I had very high, faultless, expectations of the stitching and it's not disappointed. Certainly on a par with RMC, the only note I'd make is that the stitches per inch whilst on a par with RMC were probably on the margin a bit lower than the Good Wear I had which had very small stitches (however that was a much thinner leather and thread). Personally I think it looks great and I wouldn't want the stitches to be smaller but thought I'd note it for those that care.

Overall I'm very happy with the jacket! I won't lie, I've had the occasional 'oh my god, I have an electric blue jacket' moment but I didn't want to miss my opportunity for something a bit different and every time I put it on I'm very happy with it. The proof of the pudding is in the eating though, the true test will be how much I wear it once it's cool enough to look at a jacket without breaking out into a sweat!


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Any updates with how this beauty has aged?
 

cbez

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,464
Location
CA
Looks awesome I want an olive one day. Closest I have is Mr freedom headquarters jacket with Melton wool
 

Chida

New in Town
Messages
1
Does anyone have pictures of how Tenjin jackets age? I've just bought a green cross zip myself - quite impressed with the leather so far.
 

jchance

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,205
Location
LA
Grains from a recently sold Tenjin natural leather jacket. It’s pretty rare to see grains on natural leather.

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jchance

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,205
Location
LA
Does anyone have pictures of how Tenjin jackets age? I've just bought a green cross zip myself - quite impressed with the leather so far.

Tenjin’s Instagram has a lot of examples of aged jackets.
 

thekiyote

Familiar Face
Messages
80
So, I ordered a Tenjin JW02 D pocket last January. Their webpage has a little checkbox when you place an order, saying this is a made-to-order product, so it can take a year to receive. Since I know that can just mean "a while", late last September, I sent them an email, knowing that production times are more accurate further in.

Their response (translated from polite business Japanese) was pretty much, "We told you a year, impatient gaijin."

I just received it today, exactly 364 days from the day I ordered it. If I consider Japan's date is a day ahead, that would put it at one year, to the day. I don't know if they are messing with me, it just ended up falling that way, or if they are just that accurate with their estimates.

Anyway, this is by far the nicest jacket I now own. The roominess is perfect, fits a little tight with a thick sweatshirt, but perfectly with a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt (which is pretty lucky, considering I lost some weight between when I ordered it and now, I was afraid it was going to be too loose).
 

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codex

Familiar Face
Messages
93
Anyone else intrigued by Tenjin's new offering, rigid roughout in indigo color?


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They have been _heavily_ promoting this for while, claiming it has a denim feeling and look (but 100% Tochigi leather) and a product development of 2 years.

I think it looks great and am considering it.
 
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