On Friday, October 16, 2026, Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd. released the "Ladies' Belt [Pinless Buckle]" at Yofuku no Aoyama. It uses OCOMETTAN, a synthetic leather made with recycled non-food rice as a raw material.
It comes in two colors, black and off-white, at ¥4,389 each (tax included). Black is sold at all Yofuku no Aoyama stores nationwide, and off-white at 200 major stores; it is also sold at the official online store.
A ladies' belt made with rice-derived synthetic leather
OCOMETTAN, the material used, is a synthetic leather derived from non-food rice (surplus rice for industrial use). According to the company, its raw material is non-food rice blended from broken rice generated when rice is polished across Japan and part of the government-stockpiled rice that was kept for disaster use for six years or more.
Plant-derived components make up 30% of the resin portion of the synthetic leather. Of that, 16% comes from rice and 14% from other plant sources. The company explains that this blend reduces the use of petroleum-derived raw materials.
Aoyama Trading planned a belt, an item worn every day, as a new way to use non-food rice. Along with the use of plant-derived raw materials, the material is designed with the durability and flexibility a belt needs, since it is bent often when putting it on and taking it off.
A holeless, pinless design that adjusts to your waist position
The belt has no holes and uses a buckle that does not use a pin. Unlike a system that lines up with holes, it allows fine size adjustment. The overall length including the buckle is about 105cm, and the width is about 1.5cm.
The company suggests using it to mark the waist on dresses and on bottoms without belt loops. You wrap it over your clothes and use it as an accent to your outfit. The range of physical stores that carry it differs by color, and off-white is not sold at all stores.
Ladies' belt price, release date and where to buy
- Product name: Ladies' Belt [Pinless Buckle]
- Size: about 105cm in overall length (including the buckle), about 1.5cm in width
- Material: synthetic leather
- Colors: black, off-white
- Price: ¥4,389 each (tax included)
- Release date: Friday, October 16, 2026
- Stores (physical): all Yofuku no Aoyama stores (off-white at 200 major stores)
- Stores (online): Product page on the Yofuku no Aoyama official online store
* The information given is current as of the time of the press release.
Yofuku no Aoyama is operated by Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd. This belt came out of the company's efforts to make use of non-food rice as a resource.
Image: courtesy of Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.
