Anello is a Japanese brand which was started in 2005 with a focus on backpacks. The brand name translates to "ring" or “circle” in Italian, which fits the style concept of being designed to appeal to a wide audience, regardless of gender, age, or fashion sense.

The MAGAZINES shop covered today is also certified as the official shop of Anello. It boasts one of the largest selections of Anello items in the country, with about 80 different kinds of Anello goods! There are also special designs that are only available at this particular location. Because of this, there were also many fans of the brand eagerly crowding the store at the time of my visit.

Today I spoke to the store manager, Mr. Iwasaki. As one particularly familiar with Anello amongst the entire shop staff, he tells me about the latest items...

Anello releases limited design items several times a year. These five designs are the newest. Boasting a huge popularity amongst Anello's other items, this design uses light materials, colors, and patterns perfect for the fast-approaching warm season.

Additionally, this bag, being a limited item available in limited quantities only to the Official Anello Shop, has further attracted the attention of Anello fans all around with its rarity! The most popular amongst these is the striped pattern as seen in the front of the photo!

The best feature of these clasp bags is the wide opening. The mouth of the bag is lined with wire so it stays open on its own, letting you look inside without having to hold it open with your hands. "It's a very popular item with mothers," states Mr. Iwasaki. The fullness of the inside pockets is another practical and satisfying point.

It's not just the handle that was updated and improved in the recently popular “Re:model.” The specifications of the body of this clasp bag have also been given a upgrade. While maintaining the design from its original version, it has become a much more user-friendly item.

As for the newly added specifications, not only is the fabric water-repellent, but the thick shoulder straps make it easier to balance out the weight of the load, too. Plus the opening in the back provides easier access to your bag's contents, so you can easily remove a few items at a time as needed and with ease.

The fabrics used in the conventional products have also been reviewed and improved upon. As a result, the bags have decreased in weight, and are now much easier to carry on your back.

The logo, and the symbol of Anello, is daringly blended into the bag with a similar color, aiming for simplicity and an easy-to-use design in the business scene. There are as many as 10 pockets, with a thick cloth used to create space to hold a laptop (the largest pocket as seen at the right of the photo). It is also said to help protect your computer from impact.

"This design has rapidly gained popularity since this past winter. In addition to the black bag seen in the photo, we also carry it in navy blue. Due to the popularity of this model, we have also released a number of backpacks using the same materials. The chic design gives it a sense of luxury, and it is a popular purchase by businesspersons." (Iwasaki)

Anello Grande is the newest product line from Anello released in autumn, leaving its beloved original design unchanged. This design is limited only to Japan!

Seen in the photo is the hugely popular Hinge Clasp Backpack, with a somewhat retro color scheme. As its size is on the small side, it serves as a great handbag.

In addition to backpacks, this line also offers miscellaneous goods, such as wallets. Amongst the people visiting Japan, there seem to be many who are interested in purchasing these “Japan Limited” items, says Mr. Iwasaki.

Just like the Anello Grande line offers other items such as wallets, the Anello brand also offers various other products besides backpacks! Amongst them, Mr. Iwasaki specifically recommends this pouch. He says, "The reason for my recommendation is easy. It's only 1200 yen!" (Tax excluded price). While Anello does have many things at reasonable prices, at this price it is a great choice for visitors to buy as souvenirs for their friends.

"The color is rich and it is available in 10 different designs. Many people even buy one of each! It also has a hook that can be used to attach to your waist, so it is convenient to use when traveling." (Iwasaki)

The inside of the pouch is divided into two separate sections, each with its own zipper on the left and right sides. One partition has a key ring on the inside, so you can carefully store your keys.

The official Anello backpack shop MAGAZINES Ueno Nakadori is located right next to Ameyoko, a popular tourist attraction in Ueno. It is close to Ueno Station along both the JR and Ginza Subway Lines, and stands out with its brightly glowing orange signboard, making it easy to find right away.

In addition to the items introduced here, the shop also offers a variety of other Anello products. With the warm season quickly approaching, having a good backpack will be very convenient for going out. If you are looking for a cost-effective, high-quality backpack like Anello, why not pay a visit to this shop?

*Information as of March 2019
*Prices subject to change