Shoes suitable for a stylish man

1986 was the year of the import of shoes. Simply put, the regulations on importing leather shoes, which had previously been restricted, changed to a system where you could import as many pairs as you wanted as long as you paid the taxes. This system is called the TQ system, an acronym for tariff-rate quota. In Japanese, it would be called the tariff quota system. At that time, the number of imported shoes was less than 2 million pairs, but now it has reached a tenfold increase.

The following year, Highbridge International, headed by Takahashi, was founded.


Takahashi, whose interest in fashion began with VAN Jacket, spent most of his high school years in Ameyoko. The boy, who commuted from Matsudo to Kita-Senju for school, still felt that "clothing stores were too intimidating," so he chose to work part-time at the coffee shop in a Japanese confectionery store. He spent the money he earned at legendary stores like Miura, Tamami, and Roof.

His friends included a skateboarding champion, and they became increasingly engrossed in fashion, competing with each other. He laughs, saying that his vanity got the better of him and that's how he ended up in this industry. After attending Bunka Fashion College, Takahashi worked part-time at Ships before joining Oyster, an import shop in Aoyama. After helping with the family business for a few years, he founded Highbridge International.

The reason Takahashi focused on shoes among the many items is because "they are where individuality is most evident." The way a person interacts with their feet, an item that supports their entire body weight without being particularly noticeable, certainly reveals their personality, which is fascinating. The leather develops a richer character with wear, and the shoes beautifully mold to the shape of the foot—they possess a profound depth as a product. The shoes Takahashi brings to mind are robust and have a utilitarian presence. He jokes that he's somewhat of a trend-follower, but his core values remain unwavering.


Unlike people from rural areas, you can't just go back home if you fail. There was a designer born and raised in downtown Tokyo who said that he inevitably became more reserved, and I sense a similar atmosphere in Takahashi, who worked as a waiter at a Japanese confectionery shop.

When asked why he started the brand, he dodged the question, saying, "Well, I don't have much time left." He was easygoing and hard to pin down. I was struck by his comment, "Ohyoi-san is great," which slipped out of his mouth at some point. Shunji Fujimura, also known as Ohyoi-san, who sadly passed away recently, was loved by television audiences for his lighthearted and witty personality. And he stubbornly maintained a dignified style of dress.

By the way, the brand name comes from the world's tallest bridge. It's a tall bridge.

Text: Takegawa Keiji
Photo: Suzuki Shimpei

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