gold-patterned leather; kin-karakawa
A thin leather decorated with gold patterns, introduced from Europe during the Edo period. Used for luxury items such as tobacco pouches and sword fittings. Now primarily a historical term.
During the Edo period, gold-patterned leather was used for luxury tobacco pouches and the like.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical leather.
Alternate kanji spelling using 皮 instead of 革; both are used for leather.
Compound of 金 (kin, 'gold'), 唐 (kara, 'foreign', often referring to China or Europe in historical contexts), and 革 (kawa, 'leather'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but the term reflects the imported, gold-decorated leather goods that arrived via foreign trade.