Batoner is a Japanese knitwear label launched in 2013 as the in-house brand of Okuyama Meriyasu, a Sagae knitting mill operating since 1951. Third-generation head Kohei Okuyama created it to carry the factory's knitting expertise forward, and the company controls production from yarn through finishing. Men's sweaters are priced around ¥30,000–42,000.
Key facts
- Brand launched in 2013 by Kohei Okuyama, third-generation head of the family firm
- Parent knitting company Okuyama Meriyasu was established in 1951 in Sagae, Yamagata
- All production in the family's own Yamagata factory
- Has produced a collaboration line with Comme des Garçons Homme
Fibres and construction
Batoner works principally in Cashmere, Sea Island & long-staple cotton, Merino wool. Construction and techniques associated with the house include fully-fashioned and hand-finished. It is based in Japan, Japanese luxury knitwear is prized for technical precision: mills in Yamagata, Niigata and Gunma knit on Shima Seiki WHOLEGARMENT machines and finish garments with obsessive attention to hand and fit..
How to judge Batoner quality
- For cashmere pieces, look for a stated micron count or grade, 2-ply yarn for sweaters, and a dense knit with no daylight through plain areas. See the cashmere grading guide.
- Merino quality depends on micron (extra-fine is under 18.5 µm) and on worsted spinning; fine-gauge pieces (21–30 gg) are a technical speciality worth paying for.
- This house knits fully-fashioned: check for fashioning marks along the armhole and flat, linked seams inside — the signatures of shaped, stitch-by-stitch construction.
Similar houses
Batoner: frequently asked questions
Where is Batoner knitwear made?
Batoner is based in Sagae, Yamagata, Japan. Brand launched in 2013 by Kohei Okuyama, third-generation head of the family firm.
What is Batoner known for?
Batoner is known for in-house label of a Yamagata family knitting mill operating since 1951. Its principal fibres are Cashmere, Sea Island & long-staple cotton and Merino wool.
Is Batoner a luxury brand?
Batoner sits in the premium tier of this index (roughly $150–$400 for a sweater). Its construction methods include fully-fashioned and hand-finished. It is listed here on the basis of fibre quality, construction and provenance rather than price alone.
How much does Batoner knitwear cost?
Batoner is roughly $150–$400 for a sweater at the time of writing. Prices vary by fibre and style.
Sources
- https://www.batoner.com/
- https://www.trunkclothiers.com/blogs/journal/batoner-japanese-knitwear-brand-story
Facts verified against the sources above on 16 September 2026. Prices are indicative and change; check the house's own site.