Graduates win awards in international competitions

──Finally, some big news that we can't avoid talking about. I hear that two of your graduates won awards at the "World Championship in Shoemaking" held in London the other day.

I am incredibly happy for these two, as they approached shoemaking with such sincerity. I've said this many times before, but I never had any grand ambition to train people. I simply love shoemaking, and people who share that passion have gathered around me, leading to where I am today. But before I knew it, we had over 400 graduates, and some of our graduates are working hard at renowned shoe factories. And now we even have bespoke shoemakers who are recognized worldwide. To be honest, I had always dreamed of such a time coming someday. That said, I never thought it would materialize so quickly. It's truly a moving experience.



What impressed me most about the shoes chosen by the top finishers in Yamaguchi was that they all clearly expressed individuality. Japanese shoemakers, including myself, have, in a sense, been imitating Western styles. Once you've built up your strength, the next step is establishing your own house design. In that sense, I think we've moved on to the next stage. Of course, I can't be left behind. I've been creating one house model a year up until now, but recently my fan base has been growing. Foreigners, in particular, seem to enjoy picking them up.

Photo: Tatsuya Ozawa
Text: Kei Takegawa

Event Information

Guild of Crafts Pattern Order Event

□October 31st (Wednesday) - November 6th (Tuesday)
□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , B1F = Men's Shoes
Order Details ■Price: From 129,600 yen ■Delivery: From late May 2019 onwards

*All prices include tax.

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