Zori, a traditional Japanese footwear, has transformed into flip-flops (beach sandals) and spread throughout the world, becoming an indispensable part of modern lifestyles. However, unfortunately, it's also true that the original beauty, functionality, and health benefits of zori have been lost. It was none other than Gion Naito, a long-established Kyoto footwear craftsman founded in 1875, that injected traditional Japanese techniques and cutting-edge technology into beach sandals, creating the JOJO Naitou, a modern, functional, comfortable, and stylish sandal based on zori. Three people who love the JOJO Naitou, which became a hit item soon after its creation, passionately discuss their individual preferences and how they incorporate it into their fashion.

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From left to right: Shinji Sekizuka, manager of "Naito"; Yuhi Ozaki, designer of Sankakke; and Keita Tashiro, editor-in-chief of "Isetan Men's Net".

Truly beautiful "beach sandals" that are in line with the latest trends.

"Actually, even before I was a JoJo fan, I was a fan of 'Naito.' It's a high-end shop, so I can't easily order anything there... For now, I feel like I'm using their services more as a user than as a designer for Sankakke. But depending on how things develop in the future, I think a collaboration is possible."

These are the words of Yuhi Ozaki , designer of SUN/kakke, a brand renowned for its refined, distinctly Japanese clothing. He met Shinji Sekizuka , the manager of "Naito," through a select shop in Nagoya that he frequents, and they immediately hit it off. Of course, Jojo Naito is now a fan of theirs as well.

"Indeed, both Ozaki-san and the brand Sankakke are more 'Naito' than 'JoJo'-like' (laughs)," Sekizuka-san replied. Then, joined by Tashiro Keita , editor-in-chief of Isetan Men's Net, who boasts a four-year career as a JoJo enthusiast, the three-way discussion began, surrounding the new JoJo neon color series.

The neon color series, which was born from a casual conversation with Isetan Sekizuka, started from the "least likely" point – the very colors of fluorescent markers, which are not something you'd normally choose (laughs). It's not like we played it safe.

Tashiro : That's definitely an aggressive choice (laughs). According to the buyer in charge, the aim was to fuse 1990s colors with black sneakers, keeping in mind current fashion trends. The result is exquisite. Let me reaffirm the appeal of JOJO here. I started wearing JOJO around the same time that Isetan started carrying them. Later, when I was going to do a pop-up shop, I bought a pair of JOJO in a tricolor scheme. For casual wear, they go well with easy pants and shorts, of course, but they also go well with a wide range of jeans, from dark to washed. Compared to flip-flops and sports sandals, the range of styling is overwhelmingly wider, and depending on the color combination, they can even go with a suit. There are no other sandals like them.


When I first saw Ozaki , to be honest, I thought she was a little too cute and not really my taste. However, my encounter with Sekizuka-san led me to discover the renowned shop "Naito." Since I'm the kind of person who can't rest until I try something that interests me myself, I immediately ordered a pair of zori sandals when I went to Kyoto. My idea was "zori sandals that go well with jeans." I matched the thong to the color of the blanket lining of my denim jacket, and used a turquoise blue forefoot strap...


Ozaki: When I went to pick them up about two months later, I tried them on and thought, "These are it!" I ordered geta (wooden clogs) on the spot, and eventually decided I wanted to try JOJO as well. I was taught the correct way to wear and walk in footwear, and I was impressed by how profound it all is, and I thought I had to have the casual version, JOJO, too. Once you understand footwear correctly, you can appreciate the greatness of JOJO. A lot of things "made sense" to me. In the end, I use zori (Japanese sandals) with slacks for a more formal look, and JOJO with jeans or shorts for a more casual look, so I have a clear distinction between them.

The starting point for Sekizuka JOJO was when our president (the fifth-generation head of the family, Seiji Naito) went to India and didn't see a single pair of beautiful sandals. He thought, "As a Japanese footwear craftsman, I want to make truly beautiful and comfortable beach sandals." Speaking personally, about 70% of my day is spent working by hand, so I don't travel very far. Or rather, I hardly ever leave the shop (laughs). I spend my days in a uniform-like style of a white shirt and sturdy, comfortable pants while working, and JOJO always feels just right.


Sekizuka: I often choose sandals with white or black straps because they go well with white shirts. We're what you might call "craftsmen and merchants," working while also interacting with customers, and white shirts are the perfect fit for people like us. As Ozaki-san said, how you walk is important when it comes to footwear. Some people might find JOJO sandals a little difficult to walk in at first, but once you get used to them, you won't want to go back to other flip-flops (laughs). You can wear them for long periods of time without getting tired at all.

NEXT> How to successfully incorporate the modern and unique style of JoJo Naito