Motor
MakerAbout
Motor (also known as Moto or MOTO) is a Japanese leather goods manufacturer founded by sculptor Hideo Motoike in 1971. Based in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, the company produces handmade leather footwear, bags, wallets, and accessories. The brand name derives from the founder's family name, Motoike, not motorcycles. In 2016, Hideo Motoike became Japan's first prefectural intangible cultural property holder in leather craft, and in 2021, the company opened the Motoike Art Museum, recognized as the world's first leather art museum.
About
Motor (also known as Moto or MOTO) is a Japanese leather goods manufacturer founded by sculptor Hideo Motoike in 1971. Based in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, the company produces handmade leather footwear, bags, wallets, and accessories. The brand name derives from the founder's family name, Motoike, not motorcycles. In 2016, Hideo Motoike became Japan's first prefectural intangible cultural property holder in leather craft, and in 2021, the company opened the Motoike Art Museum, recognized as the world's first leather art museum.
History
Hideo Motoike founded Leather Arts & Crafts MOTO in 1971 as a custom-made leather brand in the Sanin region of western Tottori Prefecture, with his workshop located along the Yumigahama coast. In 1976, his leather dolls were featured alongside a Norman Rockwell exhibition in Tokyo, bringing recognition to his artistic approach to leatherwork.
In 1997, Motoike's sons, Daisuke and Sakuto, founded LEATHER & SILVER MOTO, expanding the family business to include metal engraving and silverwork. The company celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2011 by launching the MOTOR clothing line, and in 2013 began the MOTORATORY project, combining the words "MOTO" and "LABORATORY" to represent their experimental approach to leather craftsmanship.
Hideo Motoike received official recognition in 2016 when he became Japan's first prefectural intangible cultural property holder in the field of leather craft. In 2020, his son Daisuke Motoike launched an independent design line called TAUPE D. MOTOIKE. The company's 50th anniversary in 2021 marked two significant achievements: Hideo received the Minister of Education Award for his cultural contributions, and the family opened the Motoike Art Museum in Tottori, designated as the world's first museum dedicated to leather art.
Products
Motor produces a range of leather footwear including engineer boots, service boots, and dress boots. The company uses premium materials such as Italian horsebutt leather and Italian bullhide, with many pieces featuring hand-dyed finishes. Beyond footwear, Motor manufactures wallets, bags, leather jackets, jewelry, and metalwork items.
The company operates under three affiliated entities: Leather Arts Hideo Motoike, LEATHER & SILVER MOTO, and MOTO·R. This multi-generational family business combines traditional leather artistry with contemporary silverwork and metal engraving techniques.
Distribution
Motor maintains retail locations in Tokyo's Aoyama neighborhood, including stores named Leather & Silver Moto and Motoike Gallery. Additional locations operate in Yonago and Okayama, with the Motoike Museum and Motostyle Store in Tottori. The company operates an online store at motostyle.jp, serving both domestic and international customers.
References
"About Us". MOTO ONLINE STORE. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
"SHOES". MOTO ONLINE STORE. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
