Nine, or so, months in (here they are at eight) and these Going to Battle labels have been officially retired.

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There have been plenty of questions about the signature “Japan Lines” on the back pocket of the Momotaro Jeans Going to Battle and First Battle Labels. Momotaro has had the painted lines as their signature from early on and the Going to Battle Label has become the brand’s flagship line of jeans. But where do these lines come from?

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Watch pocket, coin pocket, fob pocket. Originally designed for pocket watches, hence the name, today it is used almost exclusively for just about any other item than a pocket watch.

There are deep, shallow, low rise, high rise, wide, narrow, tiny, huge, uncomfortable and unnoticeable watch pockets. Yet all these are just scratching the surface, as the different styles are as varied as the brands that make the jeans.

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Time for an update on the Going to Battle label project I’ve been working on.

This was what my Momotaro Going to Battle labels looked like six months in. Now, two months and three washes later.

It is noteworthy to mention that a boat was captained while wearing these. Initially the jeans got soaked from the spray and the rain, but after the storm eased up they dried quickly in the wind and when dry (much to my liking), became rather wind proof. The skiff was pushed for all its clattering 35 horsepower Evinrud was worth, and still nothing permeated the protective layer of hardcore Japanese denim. Momotaro 1, The Elements 0.

These Momotaros have experienced no noticeable extra shrinkage after the initial washes. My Going to Battle labels were also dipped into the Baltic Sea nearby and given a little rub with sand after which they were left to dry out in the sun. The irregular blotches and lines at the front and back of the knees is from said sanding. The stacking abrasions at the hem have grown lighter. I discovered that the more the denim is washed the higher the contrast between the unbroken, unscathed indigo and the worn parts becomes. The jeans adduce more wear than tear, with only a slight rip at the hemline from cuffing.

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Hi Y’all,

What’s good? Life for once. Misty Saturday morning. We got some rain last night and the snow is melting fast. Hope things stay the same. I mean I have nothing against sub zero temperature but it’s about time the snow melted away and we could dump the boots for some sneakers. We’ll see. The mist looks nice though. Reminds me of our trip to Genting in Malaysia when all I could see from our hotel window was clouds and mist. Ah, those were the days.

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It’s been three months since I got my hands on a pair of Momotaro’s Going to Battle Labels and it’s only fair that you’ll be updated on my wear project. First, let’s take a look at what they looked like brand new:

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