Kojima, the birthplace of domestically made jeans.
This city of jeans, a source of pride for Japan, is home to many jeans manufacturers.
Among them, Betty Smith (hereafter referred to as “Betty Smith”) is Japan’s first manufacturer specializing in women’s jeans. You may have seen Betty Smith’s trademark character, with her red perm and freckles (Betty-chan).
Betty Smith’s work goes beyond manufacturing and selling jeans.
Here, we introduce the company’s efforts to create new value through jeans.
The information presented here was current when this article was published in October 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Betty Smith
Betty Smith is a long-established jeans manufacturer in Kojima, founded in 1962. The company mainly plans, manufactures, and sells jeans.
Betty Smith’s predecessor, Oshima Clothing Co., Ltd., was founded in 1927 and manufactured school uniforms, workwear, and other clothing. After World War II, the company put its long-cultivated sewing skills to use and began making jeans.
In 1970, the “Betty Smith” brand was launched as the girls’ division of Big John Co., Ltd., a company with family ties to Betty Smith. As Japan’s first manufacturer specializing in women’s jeans, Betty Smith continues to lead the jeans industry today.
A diverse range of distinctive brands
Here are the four brands offered by Betty Smith.
Betty Smith
“Betty Smith” is a jeans brand for women that the company has continued to make since its founding.
Designed with a thorough focus on comfort for women, including carefully crafted curves around the waist, the brand remains hugely popular as a pioneer in women’s jeans.
DENIM WORKS
“DENIM WORKS” was born out of “Kurashiki Custom Jeans,” a service launched in 2003.
Drawing on its extensive experience with custom orders, the brand makes “jeans for adults” that fit a wide range of body types.
BIG SMITH
“BIG SMITH” is a brand for men.
Guided by the motto “Rugged, with character,” the company creates high-quality products in Betty Smith’s distinctive style.
Eco Betty
“Eco Betty” began as a project to make souvenirs for elementary school students on social studies field trips. Pencil cases and tote bags made from leftover denim are also popular souvenirs among tourists.
“Textile Meisters” trained at Japan’s oldest jeans factory
Many of Betty Smith’s craft workers hold the Textile Meister qualification.
The Textile Meister qualification is a certification program administered by the Kurashiki Fashion Center, a general incorporated association. It requires advanced skills in producing high-quality textile products, and passing the exam helps individuals improve their skills, pass them on to others, and enhance their reputation both inside and outside the company.
The environment in which each craftsperson strives to improve their skills and create better products is what makes Betty Smith’s high-quality craftsmanship possible.
Various initiatives using jeans
Betty Smith’s corporate mission is “creating Japanese jeans culture.”
The company does more than simply manufacture and sell jeans. It shares the appeal of jeans through the perspectives of “seeing and learning” and “planning and creating.”
- Jeans Museum 1
- Jeans Museum 2
- Japan’s oldest jeans factory
- Jeans-making experience
- Kurashiki Custom Jeans
- Small-item making experience
Jeans Museum reportedly welcomes around 2,000 to 3,000 children each year on elementary school social studies field trips.
I have visited Jeans Museum several times. It has many valuable exhibits and is so impressive that it’s hard to believe admission is free. If you’re interested, I encourage you to visit.
The Betty Smith grounds also feature a dog run and farm that make use of the natural surroundings, a company-run shop where you can enjoy shopping, and a cafe where you can relax.
By providing places for recreation and learning, the company also shares the new appeal of jeans—not just as something to wear and enjoy.
What Makes Japanese-Made Jeans Special?
“Made in Japan” brings to mind high quality, but what exactly is considered high quality about these products?
Oshima Yasuhiro, president and representative director of Betty Smith, told us about the appeal of Japanese-made jeans.
Japanese Finishing Techniques Draw the World’s Attention
The greatest feature of Japanese jeans is their wide range of high-quality finishing techniques.
In 1965, when jeans production began in Kojima, the world’s first “wash treatment” was carried out in Kojima.
For Japanese people accustomed to wearing secondhand jeans, new jeans were stiff and uncomfortable. It is said that washing was used to soften the fabric and deliberately give it a worn-in look, making the jeans more comfortable to wear.
Furthermore, to keep people from tiring of wearing jeans, jeans featuring a variety of finishing techniques were created in Japan from the 1970s through the 2000s.
In the 1970s, “bleach finishing” and “stonewashing” created variations in the shades of jeans, adding individuality to jeans that had previously come only in dark colors.
In the 1980s, jeans featuring a distinctive mottled fade, known as “acid wash,” became an explosive trend.
In the 1990s, vintage-style finishes became popular, and jeans with a “retro wash” were in fashion. Materials were also developed alongside finishing techniques, and fabrics diversified to include stretchy materials and soft fabrics containing rayon.
In the 2000s, “distressed finishing” became popular, and jeans with rips and abrasions began to be made. The finishing techniques became even more refined, and the quality—so high that the jeans are indistinguishable from genuine secondhand items—is highly regarded around the world.
Jeans are often mass-produced overseas, but in Japan, manufacturing has focused on quality rather than quantity. It is this history of continually taking on new challenges in jeans-making that has made Japanese jeans high-quality products that attract attention from around the world.
At Jeans Museum 2, you can see jeans that were popular in different decades.
Oshima also says, “Japanese jeans have beautiful colors.”
He says that Japanese people have a highly discerning eye for color because they experience the rich natural scenery of each of the four seasons. The indigo produced in Japan can be called Japan Blue, a color the country can be proud of around the world.
Since its founding in 1962, Betty Smith has grown alongside the development of jeans in Japan. We spoke with President Oshima about the company’s work to date and its future outlook.
Betty Smith Company Information
| Organization name | Betty Smith |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jeans and casual wear planning, manufacturing, and sales |
| Representative | Oshima Yasuhiro |
| Year established | 1962 |
| Address | 2-70, 5-chome, Kojima Shimonomachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-473-4460 |
| Website | Betty Smith Website |
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