"My ideal is to provide counseling that is merely a guideline and reference, and to always be attentive to the customer's needs when choosing shoes. Shoes are an important item that is related to health, so I would like to build a relationship of trust with my customers, like having a 'family doctor.' Also, since I am a certified apparel fitting advisor, I would like to aim to provide advice that includes not only shoes but also total coordination," says shoe counselor Kazuki Nasu.

We asked Nasu about his own shoe counselor philosophy, incorporating examples from his actual counseling sessions.

Don't be shy, take off your shoes and show me your feet.

Counseling is a free service that requires prior reservation. When you make a reservation, we will ask about your "shoe-related concerns" in advance, so we will start by discussing your specific problems. "My feet are small, so when I choose shoes based on size, the width is too tight," she said.


First, please remove your socks and go barefoot. When you're barefoot, we can visually see which parts of your feet are being rubbed by the shoes you've been wearing. You can see that the top of your foot is rubbing and is red. Furthermore, the shape and characteristics of your feet, as well as where you have blisters, can be helpful when choosing shoes. When you receive shoe counseling, please don't be shy and show us your bare feet.

We will begin measuring your feet while you are barefoot. We will measure your "foot length," "foot width," and "foot circumference (width)." My left foot is 0.2 cm longer, my left foot is 0.4 cm shorter in width, and although the foot circumference is the same, my instep is on the thinner side.


▶STEP.3_Check the individuality of your feet

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After taking measurements, we visually inspect the feet again, checking the size and curvature of the heel, any chafing, the position of the outer ankle, the shape of the arch, the length of the toes, and other individual characteristics of the person's feet. The heel is on the smaller side, the outer ankle is low, the arch is somewhat flattened, indicating a tendency towards flat feet, and there is a slight tendency towards bunions.

▶STEP.4_Check the condition of the customer's shoes

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Just as we examine our customers' bare feet, we also carefully observe the shoes they are wearing. By looking inside the shoes, we can see the "footprint"—the imprint of the foot's shape—which reveals the position of the foot inside the shoe. Furthermore, the wear pattern on the heels reveals how the customer wears and walks in their shoes.

Looking at her feet, it appears that due to the nature of her job, she often wears leather shoes, and because she has been wearing tight-fitting shoes for a long time, she has developed a tendency towards hammer toe (a condition where the joints of the toes bend like a hammer).
I noticed that my toes were bent inside my shoes, so this time I selected shoes with extra room in the front. I also included the condition that the arch of my foot should be slightly narrowed at the waist to allow it to flatten and be in the correct position.

SANYO YAMACHO "Tomojiro" 75,900 yen

The "perfect pair" selected to reflect the customer's preferences.

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This time, after looking at the customer's feet and reflecting his preference that "I don't like shoes that look too big," we selected the "Tomojiro," a classic straight-tip shoe that could be called a masterpiece from SANYO YAMACHO .
Nasu responded to this selection by saying, "The role of a shoe counselor is to help customers find shoes that they can wear without stress, but I also make sure to listen to the comfort preferences of customers who prefer a tighter fit, as well as the tendency of many customers in my section to start with a tight fit and gradually break in the shoes to make them fit their feet."

However, those who prefer a tight fit may actually have foot injuries or other problems, so it's important to take precautions to alleviate them as much as possible. We'll have you try them on while we check your preferences.

"Nasu's Rules for Finding the Best Pair of Shoes"

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It directly impacts comfort, so we pay close attention to the "balance between foot width and heel size." Japanese men tend to have smaller heels, and in this customer's case, the instep is also lower. If we make the heel secure, the width becomes too tight, and if we loosen the width, the heel becomes too large and slips easily.
When it comes to balancing the shoe, the choice between "width" and "heel" is primarily based on the customer's preference and sensibilities, and since it varies greatly from person to person, we discuss it thoroughly with them.

I believe the most natural approach is to look at the shape of the customer's feet, listen to their preferences, and then find a manufacturer and last (shoe mold) that suits them. So, I prepare several options for them to try on.



*All prices include tax.

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