• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Stridewise

Stridewise

It's a Boot Time

  • Best Boots
  • Boot Reviews
    • Popular Reviews
      • Thursday Captain Boot
      • Red Wing Iron Ranger
      • Wolverine 1000 Mile
      • Viberg Service Boot
      • Grant Stone Diesel Boot
    • Cowboy Boots
    • Work Boots
    • All Reviews
    • Comparisons
      • Red Wing Iron Ranger Vs. Wolverine 1000 Mile
      • Timberlands Vs Doc Martens
      • Thursday’s Captain vs President Boots
      • All Comparisons
  • Boot Guides
  • Gear
    • Bags
      • Backpacks
      • Leather Bags
    • Denim
    • Jackets & Outerwear
      • Leather Jackets
      • Waxed Canvas Jackets
  • About
    • About Nick
    • Review Process
    • Our Experts
    • Revenue
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
Home › Clothing › Denim › Denim Review

Review: Momotaro’s Glossy, Hairy, Hand Made Japanese Jeans

Nick EnglishEditor-in-Chief
Updated Aug 1, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission from.

“Made by hand, without compromise” is the slogan of the Kojima-based denim company Momotaro.

Kojima is considered by many as the birthplace of Japanese denim — it’s home to the famous “Jeans Street” that houses many sought after storefronts of Japanese denim institutions. Momotaro is right there among them.

The company has a big emphasis on hand making and hand stitching jeans, and the company’s name means “Peach Boy.” Why? That’s the name of a kind of folk hero in Okayama, a boy born out of a giant peach that the gods sent to a couple who couldn’t conceive. When he got older he fought demons and ogres and such, and that’s why the jeans are absolutely covered in peach iconography, from the sheepskin waist patch to the inside of the yolk to the buttons and copper rivets. Don’t worry, there are plenty of close ups throughout this review.

So let’s get started on my pair: the G015-MZ 14.7 ounce deep colored indigo narrow tapered zipper fly jean.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Momotaro Denim
  • Momotaro Jeans Details
  • Momotaro Denim Care
  • Momotaro G015-MZ Fit & Sizing
  • Momotaro Jeans Cost
  • Momotaro Jeans Pros & Cons

Momotaro Denim

  • 14.7oz
  • Zimbabwe cotton
  • Relatively high gloss
  • Slow to fade
  • Very visible white weft

The jeans I picked up are 14.7 ounces, which to most people means it’s midweight, though these are actually some of the most lightweight Japanese jeans I own. (Most Levi’s are between 10.5 and 12.5 ounces, jeans are usually thought of as heavyweight once they’re 17 ounces or so, and there are a few brands out there that make denim over 20 ounces.)

The cotton begins its journey in Zimbabwe. Momotaro is very proud of this and uses phrases like

grown through the grace of Africa’s greatest natural environment

in their marketing.

momotaro jeans profile

The brand’s old fashioned, handcrafted ethos starts right at the beginning: the long staple cotton is hand cropped, which helps them to keep out plant matter and impurities and to minimize damage to the thread. Zimbabwe cotton is known for being very white, very flexible, and easy to dye. It’s actually most often used in European dress shirts, but it makes pretty solid jeans as well.

momotaro jeans on body

Like a lot of Japanese jeans, it’s woven by vintage shuttle looms. That kind of old fashioned production process often produces very irregular, slubby denim like Studio D’Artisan or Pure Blue Japan, but that’s not the case for Momotaro: it’s pretty uniform and slick, even a little glossy, due to the Zimbabwe cotton’s natural sheen. If you look closely, you can see plenty of fine “hairs” protruding from the jeans and they’re not as slick and smooth as something like Iron Heart. It’s sort of right in the middle: not very slubby, not very slick. 

momotaro jeans crotch fading

The crotch fading a little after a few weeks of wear. Note the pink inseam.

Momotaro says these jeans have the “world’s most deep color,” and while it is synthetic indigo, it’s still a nice deep blue. Just note that the white weft is quite visible here, and they deliberately dye it so that the center of the thread isn’t dyed and stays white, so that when it fades it fades the way people want it to.

[Learn more: Why Zimbabwe Cotton Is So Popular]

momotaro denim dying

A cross section of the dyed cotton, showing the white center that helps to produce desirable fades. This image is taken from the unbelievably cool documentary Momotaro put on YouTube that you should definitely watch.

Momotaro Jeans Details

  • Zipper fly
  • Adorned with peach and demon motifs
  • 20 types of threads used
  • Pink selvedge ID

I was really happy to finally get some Japanese jeans with a zipper fly, which is very unusual, but the G015-MZ has it. Very unusual, very easy to go to the bathroom, and for those who lament the fact that this means fewer buttons, well, OK, you’re right. But you do still get some very nice, engraved copper buttons and rivets, and each and every one of them is adorned with a peach motif, which I just love.

momotaro jeans button

A peach on the fly and peaches on the inside of the yoke.

Momotaro peache motifs on jeans

There’s also a boy coming out of a peach on the sheepskin waist patch and what looks like a grown up Momotaro squaring off against a demon on the inside of the flannel pockets. (Fun fact: the Japanese word for demon or ogre is Oni, the name of another Okayama-based denim company. Which I reviewed!)

Then we need to talk about the stitching. The company says they use about 20 types of threads in their jeans, like cotton threads and core yarn threads. Most of the stitching is a dark gold color but the color of the threads vary to lighter yellow, on the belt loops and the snazzy swoop on the back pocket…

momotaro jeans butt

… to what might be the best known aspect of Momotaro jeans, the bright pink selvedge ID. The pink stitching runs all the way up the inside of the legs and I absolutely love it. I imagine, and I have zero research backing this up, that some guys out there might not love the idea of pink on their jeans. But I think it looks great, and it makes me pair the jeans with more grey, blue, black, and white-type colors than earthy browns and greens.

[Related: 7 reasons Japanese denim is worth the cost]

momotaro jeans selvedge cuff

Momotaro Denim Care

  • Wash separately from other clothes
  • Wash inside out
  • Famously slow to fade

The label says wash separately, wash it inside out, and not to tumble dry or dry clean. So pretty standard instructions; like all quality jeans, the indigo will seep into the water and ruin all your clothes if you don’t separate them.

A lot of people out there will only wash their Momotaros every 60 wears or so (if that), it’s a very individual question as to how often you should wash selvedge jeans. But even though synthetic indigo is meant to fade faster than natural indigo, Momotaros are famously pretty slow to fade.

I’ve got about 50 or so wears in these without washing and while it’s lightening up a little around the back pockets, most of my jeans are getting some nice electric blue lines around the waist by now. Not the Momotaros; most people say you need a good year before you start seeing the natural vertical fades that may eventually become something like this this 3-year-old pair from Reddit user Saikyo.

[Related: The 4 biggest misconceptions about raw denim]

momotaro jeans denim

Sometimes, the pink really pops

Momotaro G015-MZ Fit & Sizing

  • Okayama Denim calls this a “lifter’s cut”
  • Bigger thighs, larger glutes
  • Order a size up from your normal waist

If you’ve read my other reviews, you know what I’m about to say: I have pretty big thighs and a tall butt so I always get jeans with a high rise and a relaxed tapered sort of fit. Okayama Denim calls this G015-MZ “a lifter’s cut” for “bigger thighs and larger glutes,” though the cuff is very narrow, to the point that I usually have to sit down and tug when I’m trying to get them off.

All my American pants are size 32, I ordered these in 32, and I’ll be honest, I should have gone a size up. When they arrived, I couldn’t put them on.

Should I have ordered a bigger size? Yes.
Should I have returned them? Yes.
Was I too lazy to do so, and too cheap to pay the shipping fees to Japan? Yes.

Denimio does not do free exchanges, so I just muscled these on and lunged around New York trying to stretch them out and now, they’re probably my best fitting slim jeans. But they are pretty darn slim.

It still wrinkles a little on the thighs when I bend my knees, which I know means they’re not the ideal fit, and this doesn’t have a very high rise either. But after breaking them in, these have found up a pretty good, clean, slim jean. The fit is lean, though, so I wear them with more modern outfits and slimmer fitting tops.

[Compare with my review of Naked & Famous Left Hand Twill]

momotaro jeans crotch fading

Note they still wrinkle just a little on the thighs when I’m sitting.

Momotaro Jeans Cost

I got these on Denimio for $232, on Momotaro’s site they’re $300, but on Okayama Denim they’re $210. So you should get them on Okayama Denim if they’re in stock.

$210 is a pretty great price for a pair of Japanese jeans, which are usually over $300. It’s not especially thick denim, though, so that would contribute to the cost reduction.

[Related: The best selvedge jeans that aren’t raw]

Momotaro Jeans Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Under $250
  • Handmade
  • Very cool peach details
  • Sturdy, secure stitching
  • 14.7oz can be warn in warmer weather

Cons

  • Synthetic indigo
  • Slow to fade
  • Very clean, not fuzzy/slubby
  • Pink stitching might turn off some people
momotaro jeans pocket

These jeans are well priced and the denim has a good balance of cleanness and hairiness — which is to say you can tell they’re not your regular, sleek, run-of-the-mill jeans, but they’re not over the top slubby and neppy. Of course, whether that’s a pro or a con depends on the consumer: some adore ultra hairy jeans, others want jeans that won’t draw as much attention.

They’re famously slow to fade, but you can expect a nice patina on these jeans owing to the fact that the core of the thread isn’t dyed and the white weft shows through even when they’re new. I adore the peach motifs and I’m crazy about the pink stitching: it’s just different enough to be memorable, but it’s sleek enough to blend in in Manhattan. In addition to all that, the stitching is very secure; after months of wear, I’ve experienced precisely zero loose threads.

All in all, it’s a great pair of jeans. Just make sure you’re OK with pink.

Thanks to Dave Stewart at Japanalogue for lending his Japan expertise to this review. Check out his site!

Nick English

Editor-in-Chief

Nick English, the founder and editor of Stridewise, combines a rich background in journalism with well-recognized expertise in welted footwear and casual menswear.

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn More articles by Nick English

You Might Also Like

pure blue japan featured
Pure Blue Japan Review: My Neppiest Jeans Ever
naked and famous featured
Review: Are Naked & Famous’s Left Hand Twill Jeans the Best Budget Selvedge?
studio dartisan featured
Studio d’Artisan G-003 Denim Review & Discount: The Hairiest Jeans on Earth?
best selvedge denim featured image
Best Selvedge Denim: 9 Solid Brands Expert Tested for Quality, Value, & Weirdness
Stridewise team

About Stridewise

by Nick English

Founded in 2018 to help men buy the best boots, we’ve since expanded our team and purview to review and celebrate casual footwear and menswear that’s as close to “buy it for life” quality as possible. We take great pride in being a trusted source for information while maintaining complete editorial independence. At no extra cost to you, we might earn a commission from a brand when you purchase through our links, which helps us keep our mission alive. Learn More

11 Ways to Save Money on Boots

Subscribe for an exclusive article to help you find the best deals on quality footwear.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Join the Discussion Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Dave

    February 3, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    Hey man, another super solid review, just like all the rest!

    Reply
    • Nick

      February 3, 2020 at 10:37 pm

      Dave you’re my hero, thank you for enjoying and commenting!

      Reply
  2. Steve

    May 16, 2022 at 1:36 pm

    Great info Most people don’t like bootcut but , if you happen to have own Momotaro bootcut , can someone give me an in-depth review like this with the bootcut , like denim dye real indigo or fake , fit , basically very detailed
    Thank you

    Reply
  3. joey

    September 8, 2022 at 10:03 am

    love momotaro jeans, and love the pink inseam! will look into getting some zimbabwe cotton

    Reply
    • Nick English

      October 14, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      I did a whole article on it! https://stridewise.com/zimbabwe-cotton-jeans/

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Want to dress better?

See which boots suit your preferences and style.

My Top Picks

Most Popular

Best made in usa boots

The 10 Best American-Made Boots

Best chelsea boots for men 1024x576 1

The 13 Best Chelsea Boots

best moc toe boot

The 7 Best Moc Toe Boots

Stridewise team

About Stridewise

by Nick English

Founded in 2018 to help men buy the best boots, we’ve since expanded our team and purview to review and celebrate casual footwear and menswear that’s as close to “buy it for life” quality as possible. We take great pride in being a trusted source for information while maintaining complete editorial independence. At no extra cost to you, we might earn a commission from a brand when you purchase through our links, which helps us keep our mission alive. Learn More

11 Ways to Save Money on Boots

Subscribe for an exclusive article to help you find the best deals on quality footwear.

Most Recent

Flint tinder flannel lined quilted waxed rancher featured img

Review: Flint and Tinder’s Rugged and Warm Waxed Rancher Jacket

Carhartt wip detroit jacket review

The Carhartt WIP Detroit Jacket: How it Compares to the Original

Best travel boot featured image

My 6 Favorite Boots for Traveling In and Walking All Day

Flint and tinder denim

Flint and Tinder Jeans Line-Up: All-American vs. Japanese vs. Everyday Selvedge

Thursday legend boots review

1-Year Thursday Legend Review: Why is it Thursday’s Best Selling Chelsea?

Trending Now

  • a man pondering the best boots for men16 Best Boots For Men to Buy Tested By Experts (Spring 2025)
  • doc martens alternatives6 Doc Marten Alternatives That Don’t Suck
  • best american boot brands10 Best American Made Boots to Buy in 2025 (Made in USA!)
  • Best leather briefcases for men, Satchel & Page Counselor on the right, and Saddleback Pilot on the left11 Best Leather Briefcases for Men in 2025: High-End, Budget, Vintage, and More
Stridewise

Casual Durable™.

Yup, we even trademarked it. Just because you’re dressed down, doesn’t mean you have to dress bad. 

This site started to help guys find the best boots for their dollar and has since expanded to cover the highest quality casual menswear, from leather jackets to selvedge jeans to canvas bags — the kind of simple, fashionproof classics that help you get dressed without overthinking your “style.” Read more

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Our Experts

11 Ways to Save Money on Boots

Subscribe for an exclusive article to help you find the best deals on quality footwear.

Articles by Category

  • Accessories
  • Backpacks
  • Bags
  • Boot & Leather Care
  • Boot Guides
  • Boot Reviews
  • Boots
  • Briefcases
  • Clothing
  • Comparison
  • Cowboy Boots
  • Culture
  • Denim
  • Denim Jackets
  • Denim Review
  • Fabric
  • Footwear
  • Hats
  • Jackets & Outerwear
  • Leather Bags
  • Leather Conditioners
  • Leather Jackets
  • Loafers
  • Pens
  • Shirts
  • Sneakers
  • Waxed Canvas Jackets
  • Women's Boots
  • Work Boots
  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • X

© 2025 · Stridewise · All Rights Reserved · Terms · Privacy · Affiliate Disclosure · Accessibility