Frankly I do not know how they tanned it...the touch is soft and buttery but heavy and firm at the same moment. The jacket is quite heavy. Nevertheless being new, the jacket seems 10 years old, in a good way of course, and you cannot keep your hands out of this skin...I would say, it's the typical japanese fetish...Very interesting choice of hide. The jacket is gorgeous! Wondering how it is to the touch and any idea how they tanned it?