[For Women] Basic shoe care recommended by a shoe shiner.

We asked Ms. Shima, the manager of Brift H, to tell us about the skincare treatments she recommends for women.



1. One thing that often bothers women's shoes is the dirt on the insole. First, wipe this area with an alcohol-based wet wipe. When doing so, be sure to avoid areas with brand logos or other pigments.


2. First, remove dirt with a horsehair brush. A horsehair brush is essential for shoe care, says Ms. Shimaka. "Ideally, you should make it a habit to remove dust from your shoes with a horsehair brush as soon as you get home."


3. Apply the cleaner to a piece of cloth, such as an old T-shirt, and remove any oil from the leather surface. Wipe gently in a circular motion on the leather, similar to how you would cleanse your skin.


4. Apply the emulsifying cream with your fingers. In this case, use a colorless cream and apply it as if you were applying a moisturizing cream to your skin. Apply it to your fingertips in 2 cm square increments. It's ready when the surface feels slightly supple.


5. Next, use a boar bristle brush to brush the surface. Brush in a way that pushes the cream on the surface of the leather into the leather itself. The stiff boar bristles are effective in this regard.


6. Next, wipe off any remaining cream from the surface with a dry cloth (you can use a different side of the cloth from before). When doing this, simply wipe quickly in one direction, rather than wiping carefully in a circular motion.


7. For any scratches or other damage on the toe or heel areas, apply an emulsifying cream in the same color as the leather and wipe it off. If you are hesitant to touch the leather directly with your fingers, you can use rubber gloves.


8. For the finishing touches, a goat hair brush is recommended, but you can also use an old stocking as an alternative. Ms. Shimaka used a sponge wrapped in a stocking like this.


9. The brushes used for this treatment. On the left is a boar bristle brush, in the middle is a horsehair brush, and on the right is a homemade finishing tool made by wrapping a sponge in a stocking.


10. The two on the right are colorless emulsifying creams, and the remaining three are cleaners. The Brift H mirror polishing cleaner in the middle can remove wax without damaging the leather.

[For Men] Simple skincare using just one cream.

We asked Mr. Okuno, who also works as a shoe-shining entertainer, to teach us some very simple shoe care techniques.



1. As a simple care method that can be done at home, Ms. Okuno had prepared this colorless "Saphir Noir Crème 1925." It was chosen because it is an oil-based cream.


2. Mr. Okuno took a slightly generous amount, scooping it up on his fingertips like this. He recommends using plain weave fabrics such as old sheets or bedspreads.


3. Apply the cream, taken with a cloth, to the surface of the shoe. Apply and wipe it in a circular motion with your fingers. Pay extra attention to the creases and the opening of the shoe.


4. You can clearly see that the old wax is coming off. Oil-based creams are also said to be good at removing oily wax. Furthermore, they also help to condition the leather.


5. Once you've finished spreading the cream, wipe it with a dry cloth. You can even use a piece of an old flannel shirt. Just wipe the surface.


6. The shoe on the left is the result of a series of polishing steps. The depth of color and the subdued shine are immediately apparent. "This method is simple, but it's also a way to polish shoes so they last longer," says Mr. Okuno.

Photograph: Takao Ohta
Text: Yukihiro Sugawara