Kapital was founded in 1984 in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture—also known as the "Denim Capital of Japan." The brand takes its name from this heritage-rich location, often considered the epicenter of Japanese denim craftsmanship. Its founder, Toshikiyo Hirata, was originally a karate teacher before being inspired by American denim during a trip to the United States. He returned to Japan with a deep fascination for vintage American workwear, and this sparked his desire to produce high-quality jeans using traditional Japanese methods.