After years of living through the “messy wallet” era—buried under piles of receipts and point cards—I finally arrived at a way of handling my wallet that truly feels like me. My long, long journey of wallet wandering has come to an end, and now, sitting snugly in my hand, are a few slightly quirky yet perfectly fitting companions.
This time, I’d like to introduce the four items inside my valuables case—beloved pieces that are about to mark their fifth year with me.
So then, let’s go through them one by one, following the numbering.
① Key Case
Holds two house keys. I used to be on team keychain, but after discovering this irresistibly cute case, I’ve been loyal ever since. It’s so much a part of my daily routine that there’s hardly a day it doesn’t make an appearance—an annoying little fellow I can’t help but love.
② Coin Case
I used to keep coins in a zippered wallet, but since that wore out quickly, I decided to separate them. Today’s contents: ¥501. Its perfectly square shape is charming, giving off a quiet yet undeniable presence.
③ Business Card Holder
As the name suggests, it holds my business cards—but I also keep a backup credit card tucked into one of the pockets. That said, I barely ever use it, so I’m honestly starting to think, “Maybe I could just leave this one at home…”
④ Passport Case (Wallet)
Probably the most surprising item of the bunch.
Back when I was studying abroad, I wondered, “What if I built my wallet around my passport—the one thing I absolutely couldn’t lose?” That idea turned out to be surprisingly comfortable! It’s not as large as a long wallet, yet not as thick as a mini one—a perfect in-between that just fits in a pocket.
On ordinary days, I slip a few thousand yen bills into the center section, and in the pockets go my My Number card, driver’s license, main credit card, cash card, and my dentist’s appointment card.
↑ This is how it looks with bills inside. I love that I can instantly see how much I have left at a glance.
The case itself is a mesh pouch from a 100-yen shop—the same one I mentioned in my “What’s in My Bag” post. For quick errands, I can just toss it into an eco bag and head out light and easy.
And now, a little side story.
Four years ago, when I thought, “This time I really want to end my wallet hunt,” I happened to find an online shop that carried multiple items in my favorite color, plain design, and matching material. On November 25, 2021—just when I’d saved up enough credit card points—I got all four pieces for a total of only 500 yen (!).
It was such an unbelievable bargain, yet because I’ve used them with care, they’re still almost spotless and fray-free. If the shop still exists, I’d love to get the same series again—it’s how attached I’ve become.
Using a passport case as a wallet might be an uncommon choice, but I’m happy with this setup—it’s the result of tailoring my lifestyle to fit me perfectly.
In this age of cashless payments, maybe everyone’s wallet is going through its own kind of transition.
If this little experiment gives you even a small hint for making your own days more comfortable, I’d be truly glad.