Japanese Shoes: Bespoke & RTW Super Thread

[nutcracker]

Well, here it is, finally (or another?), a thread devoted to shoemaking from the Land of the Rising Sun

Unfortunately there is very limited information in English about the vibrant world of Bespoke shoemaking in Japan. As some of you know, there are quite a few Japanese bespoke shoemakers out there, and for me personally, living in Tokyo has provided me with lotsa eye(shoe)candies

I've also seen some forum members interested in the RTW brands, what is there, are they good? etc....and not getting answers

Lets have this thread change that, because honestly, we're missing out on some serious Japanese Appreciation! Discuss and share!

In order to remove the clout of mystery (frankly from the lack of available information in English), I'll do the honour of listing all the decent Japanese shoemakers RTW and Bespoke that I know.


List of notable Bespoke Shoemakers in Japan (Updated 9. 2020)

Tokyo and Kanto Area

Marquess (Kawaguchi Shoji): http://marquess-bespoke.blogspot.jp/
Yohei Fukuda: http://yoheifukuda.jp/
Benchwork Study (Yukiko Bassett-Okawa): http://www.benchmade.jp/
handsewn welted bootmaker o.e. (Egawa Osamu): http://www.alteart.com/
Hiro Yanagimachi: http://www.hiroyanagimachi.com/
Tsukui Reiko (Lecott): http://lecott.blogspot.jp/
Misawa & Workshop (Misawa Noriyuki): http://www.misawa-and-workshop.com/
Clematis (Takano Keitaro): http://www.clematis-ginza.com/
Arai Hiroshi: http://h-arai.com
Guild of Crafts (Yamaguchi Chihiro): http://www.footwear.co.jp/
Tetsujiya (Ueda Tetsuji): http://tetsujiya.com/
Ogasawara Shoes / συναντω: http://sinando.jp/
Otsuka Shoes: http://www.otsuka-shoe.com/
Ginza Yoshinoya: http://www.ginza-yoshinoya.co.jp/
Emori Custom Shoemaker (Emori Daizo): http://shoemaker-emori.com/
Inamori Kutsuten (Tohohiro Inamori): http://inakutsu.com/
Le Scarpe Di Cabiria (Wada Yoshiaki): http://www.yo.rim.or.jp/~local/index.html
Rikhugi (Okubo Takauji): http://bespoker.exblog.jp/
Shoe Republic (Takayama Junichi): http://shoe-republic.com/
Furuhata Masahito: http://m-furuhata.com/
T. Shirakashi (Shirakashi Tetsuya): http://www.shirakashi.jp/index.html
Takayuki Maruyama Handmade Shoes:
Anonymous (Akasaka Hidenori): www.anonymous-shoe.com
REGAL TOKYO: http://www.regal.co.jp/regaltokyo/
Bottega Tramoda (Okayasu Keisuke): http://bottegatramoda.web.fc2.com/
TYE Shoemaker (Ohno Tsuyoshi): http://www.tyeshoemaker.com/
Main D'or (Murata Eiji):
Seiji McCarthy: http://www.seijimccarthy.com/
Ameno Spazio (Nakagaki Tomohiro): http://www.amenospazio.com
gentille (Endo Koji): http://www.geocities.jp/gentille_79/
Bespoke Shoeworks Yuigo Hayano: http://www.yuigohayano.com/
Il Puledro (Kenji Jinza): http://www.il-puledro.com/
eins-a Shoemaker Ota (Baku Ota): https://eins-a.net/
Yutaka Moriguchi (Sarto): www.sarto.jp
So Tsuchiya: www.sotsuchiya.com/
Shiroeno Youi: https://siroenoyosui.jp/
When: https://www.s-when.com/


Nagoya and Central Japan

Bolero Bespoke Shoe & Bootmaker (Watanabe Tomoyuki): http://bolero-shoemaker.jp/
Shoes Bonanza: http://shoesbonanza.com/
Nagomigutsu (Ota Katsuhisa): https://katsu-bespoke.com/
KOKON: http://kanazawakokon.com/page3.html


Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe

Spigola (Suzuki Koji): http://www.spigola.jp
Sforzo. Opera (Yoshida Tsutomu): http://www.sforzo-opera.com/
Ryuta Gutsu: http://ryuta-gutsu.com/
Shoe & Sewn: http://shoe-and-sewn.jp/
Il Quadrifoglio (Qnai Atsushi): https://www.quadrifoglio-kobe.com/
Il Vagabundo (Suga Motoji): http://miescarpe.exblog.jp/
Bonta (Hasegawa Ippei): http://bontajp.blog134.fc2.com/
Atsuta Kutsuten (Atsuta Koji):
Ann. (Akiyoshi Nishiyama): http://ann-bespoke.com/
Kenji Hashimoto Orthopedic Shoemaker: http://www.kenji-hashimoto.com/
Andante (Yusuke Yamaki: http://andante-shoe.com/
Yuki Shirahama Bottier: http://ys-bottier.com/



KYUSHU

Corno Blu (Seikaku Yutaka): https://www.cornoblu.info/
Nihil Bespoke Shoe: http://nihil-bs.com
Matsuda Akinobu
Yamamura Seikaten (Yamamura Koji): http://www.yamamuraseikaten.com/

HOKKAIDO

Cagra: http://www.k5.dion.ne.jp/~cagra/


OVERSEAS
Il Micio (Fukaya Hidetaka): @ Florence
Hayafuji Ryota: @ Munich hayafuji.tumblr.com
Okuyama Masaru: @ Hong Kong http://www.masaruokuyama.com
La Calzolaia di Shoko Matsuoka @ Florence
Perticone (Yoshimoto Seiichi): @ Rome
Orma Shoemaker (Shimamoto Wataru): @ Florence www.facebook/taijinoyume
Matsuda Emiko: @ Foster & Sons
Kuroki Satoshi: @ John Lobb Paris
Yasuhuro Shioda @ Aubercy
Yohei Iwasaki @ George Cleverley
Imata Kumiko @ Stefano Bemer
Tani Akira @ Florence
Miyakawa Seiji @ Mario Bemer



Dress Shoe Manufactures (Ready Made)

Regal Shoes: www.regalshoes.co.jp
Otsuka Shoes: www.otsuka-shoe.com
Ginza Yoshinoya: www.ginza-yoshinoya.co.jp
Miyagi Kogyo: www.miyagikogyo.co.jp
Scotch Grain: www.scotchgrain.co.jp
Union Imperial: www.union-royal.jp
Madras: www.madras.co.jp
Sanyo Yamacho: www.sanyoyamacho.com
forme: www.formeofficial.com
Yoshiharu Hasegawa
Central Shoes
Perfetto: www.vinaseiko.com
Chausser: www.chausser.net
Rendo: https://www.rendo-shoes.jp/
Oriental Shoes: https://oriental-shoemaker.com/
Foot the Coacher: www.galleryofauthentic.jp
Authentic Shoes & Co.: www.galleryofauthentic.jp
H? Katsukawa from Tokyo: www.hkatsukawafromtokyo.net
Hiroshi Tsubouchi: www.id-limited.com
Pegman: www.lacota.co.jp/pegman
Hall & Marks (RTW): http://www.footwear.co.jp/
Corno Blu (RTW): http://cornoblu.ciao.jp/wordpress/
Spigola (RTW): http://www.spigola.jp
CLEMATIS (RTW): http://clematis-ginza.com/machinemade.html
Joe Works: www.joeworks.net
Arch Kerry: www.archkerry.com
Santari (Tate Shoes): https://santari.jp/

 

[nutcracker]

Here is a list of Japanese shoemakers with OVERSEAS training, education, and apprenticeship

Marquess (Kawaguchi Shoji): Tresham Institute>Paul Wilson>Outworker
Yohei Fukuda: Tresham Institute>Ian Wood>Jason Amesbury>G.J.Cleverley>Outworker
Benchwork Study (Yukiko Bassett-Okawa): Cordwainer's College>John Lobb St.James
Yanagimachi Hiro: Cordwainer's College
Misawa & Workshop (Misawa Noriyuki): Guild > Materna
Hasegawa Yoshiharu: Cordwainer's College
Guild of Crafts) Yamaguchi Chihiro: Cordwainer's College>Len Robinson (EG/Trickers)
Tetsujiya (Ueda Tetsuji): Mannina
Rikhugi (Okubo Takauji): Cordwainer's College
Shoe Republic (Takayama Junichi): Tresham Institute
Furuhata Masahito: Gato>Messina
Bottega Tramoda (Okayasu Keisuke): Roberto Ugolini
Spigola (Suzuki Koji): Roberto Ugolini
Il Quadrifoglio (Qnai Atsushi): Roberto Ugolini
Corno Blu (Seikaku Yutaka): Roberto Ugolini
Il Vagabundo (Suga Motoji): Roberto Ugolini
Yuki Shirahama Bottier: Guild>Spigola>Altan Bottier
Cool Strutting (Yokoo Tadashi): Cordwainer's College>Guild
Bonta (Hasegawa Ippei):Silvano Lattanzi>Guild
Atsuta Kutsuten (Atsuta Koji): Tresham Institute>Frank Harvey>Stefano Bemer
Ameno Spazio (Nakagaki Tomohiro): Zintala
Matsuda Akinobu: Roberto Ugolini
Eiichi Katsukawa: Tresham Institute>Paul Harnden
Gentile (Endo Koji): Anthony Delos
Akiyoshi Nishiyama (Ann.): Jason Amesbury > Foster & Son & John Lobb
Kenji Jinza (Il Puledro): Mannina & Stefano Bemer
Yuigo Hayano: Steven Lowe

Il Micio (Fukaya Hidetaka): Alessandro Stella>Roberto Ugolini
Hayafuji Ryota: Cordwainer's College>Paul Wilson>Dmitri Gomez
Matsuda Emiko: Cordwainer's College>Foster & Sons (current)
Kuroki Satoshi: Cordwainer's College>JL Paris (current)
Yasuhiro Shioda (Aubercy): Massaro > Corthay > Aubercy
Imata Kumiko (Stefano Bemer): Guild > Stefano Bemer
Seiji Miyakawa (Mario Bamer): Esperanza > Stefano Bemer > Mario Bemer
Shoko Matsuoka: Mannina

 

[bengal-stripe]

A really impressive list. - Obviously a labour of love!

 

[nutcracker]



A really impressive list. - Obviously a labour of love!

Thanks! not too much work though! a lot of the bespoke makers are mentioned in Japanese forums....just had to dig a bit deeper to find their resume or interviews

 

[add911_11]

Yes Nutcraker! Now we have a real in-depth thread. Thanks for all the work.

 

[Ilovelobbs]

Thanks! not too much work though! a lot of the bespoke makers are mentioned in Japanese forums....just had to dig a bit deeper to find their resume or interviews

Impressive list NC - be great to kick off this thread with pictures galore from the land of the rising sun...

I am aware the Japanese are BIG consumers of high end shoes, wasn't aware they're keen
on the supply side...the list looks more comprehensive than the current British contingent.

Your list given me a good reason to visit Japan!

Well Done.

 

[terrorsquad]

Fantastic list nutcracker;now i'm all ready for my Japan trip.

thank you again fo this great contribution

 

[coloRLOw]

Masaru Okuyama: @ Hong Kong http://www.masaruokuyama.com

looks great

how much are their shoes?

 

[Ilovelobbs]

Masaru Okuyama: @ Hong Kong http://www.masaruokuyama.com

looks great

how much are their shoes?

First piece of p0rn...from Masaru Okuyama

 

[nutcracker]



Yes Nutcraker! Now we have a real in-depth thread. Thanks for all the work.

Impressive list NC - be great to kick off this thread with pictures galore from the land of the rising sun...

I am aware the Japanese are BIG consumers of high end shoes, wasn't aware they're keen 
on the supply side...the list looks more comprehensive than the current British contingent.

Your list given me a good reason to visit Japan!

Well Done.

Yes there is a whole lot of them. But I think what makes Japanese bespoke scene different is that there is so much diverse styles available (English, Italian, French, Austrian, and local Japanese) just in Tokyo alone

Fantastic list nutcracker;now i'm all ready for my Japan trip.

thank you again fo this great contribution 

quite a few of the bespoke makers offer handmade MTO shoes with lasts to choose from. Usually don't include a fitting session, and cost 1/2 or less of full bespoke. I suppose you can order on spot, and have it shipped once done. On top of my head, Saion, Spigola, Guild (Hall & Marks), Clematis does it

 

[nutcracker]



Masaru Okuyama: @ Hong Kong http://www.masaruokuyama.com looks great

how much are their shoes?

If I recall, 38,000 HKD

First piece of p0rn...from Masaru Okuyama

very very nice. I remember some forum member had a couple of Okuyama bespokes (from Hardcore Appreciation thread?)

 

[add911_11]



If I recall, 38,000 HKD
very very nice. I remember some forum member had a couple of Okuyama bespokes (from Hardcore Appreciation thread?)

I have actually line up with him a visit once I am back Home. Will be able to tell in the next 2 months.

 

[nutcracker]

Marquess: The round toe last = love

There is Bespokepalooza party event going on at Isetan this Saturday, with 20 bespoke artists (shoes, tailors etc...) showing up all at once to take orders....
I'll pay a visit to Marquess and Yohei Fukuda at the event, hopely I can snap some pics

 

[nutcracker]

Misawa Noriyuki's brogues: Viennese Style (with a lil bit of Materna's DNA)

 

[VRaivio]

nutcracker, you are the man! How many of these makers speak English? I've approached some Japanese cordwainers with my interview requests; some have not understood me while some have professional level grasp of the tongue.