It’s been 10 years since the first-generation Tenuis was released. It feels like we’ve been moving forward nonstop all this time, but I’d like to take a moment to look back.
From around 2016 to 2018—the era of the first and second generations of Tenuis—I recall that categories like “thin wallets,” “mini wallets,” and “compact wallets” weren’t nearly as common as they are today. Back then, there were still few options available, and the concept of a so-called “minimalist wallet” wasn’t as widely recognized as it is now.
After that, around the time we raised approximately 44 million yen through crowdfunding for the Tenuis zipper model, I recall that the market for slim, mini, and compact wallets suddenly began to heat up.Spurred by this, mini wallets and compact wallets from reputable manufacturers began appearing one after another, and competition intensified in terms of wallet thickness, storage efficiency, and the design of card and coin compartments.
Now, in 2026, I feel that the compact and mini wallet industry has reached a stage of relative maturity.The structures and designs of “thin wallets”—which were rare back then—are now adopted by various manufacturers, making it increasingly difficult to differentiate products based on novelty alone. In particular, wallets targeted at minimalist users and marketing that emphasizes specific measurements, such as “XX mm thick,” have become commonplace.
That said, I believe the manufacturers that have enjoyed widespread support from the early days of this mini and compact wallet market’s boom until now have achieved this success precisely because they have consistently released outstanding products. I feel that their dedication to the fundamentals—such as usability, durability, and material selection—is what has earned them recognition. I have sincere respect for this, and I feel there is much for us to learn from them.
Rather than emphasizing how our company is superior to other manufacturers, we want to acknowledge their strengths while refining the “unique value” that SOLAHANPU can offer. Even within the category of thin and compact wallets, it’s becoming increasingly important to focus not just on being small or thin, but on creating a positive user experience—such as ease of access and storage in real-life situations.
Furthermore, even within our own product lineup, we do not intend to rely solely on our existing models. Instead, we plan to continue enhancing product value by re-examining the elements truly essential for minimalist wallets, including variations on our slim mini and compact wallets.
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