Japanese Shoes: Bespoke & RTW Super Thread

[edinatlanta]

I remember Maruzen had a few items from the Boot Black but what stores have a more extensive collection?

 

[Oshare]

I remember Maruzen had a few items from the Boot Black but what stores have a more extensive collection?

I think World Foot Wear Gallery in Ginza had some Boot Black products. Not a huge selection, but perhaps worth a look.

 

[edinatlanta]

I think World Foot Wear Gallery in Ginza had some Boot Black products. Not a huge selection, but perhaps worth a look.

Thanks ill be back in mid October so no rush or nothing

 

[nutcracker]

I remember Maruzen had a few items from the Boot Black but what stores have a more extensive collection?

ISETAN MEN`S in Shinjuku has a large collection of Bootblack Black Label.

Tokyu Hands have the largest selection of shoe care products in general (even has the Brift H products), but they only carry the Bootblack Silver Collection (equivalent to blue Saphir)

 

[edinatlanta]

ISETAN MEN`S in Shinjuku has a large collection of Bootblack Black Label.

Tokyu Hands have the largest selection of shoe care products in general (even has the Brift H products), but they only carry the Bootblack Silver Collection (equivalent to blue Saphir)

Of course there's multiple high-end Japanese shoecare brands. Is Brift H supposed to be good as well? Any others to keep my peepers peeled for?

 

[nutcracker]

Of course there's multiple high-end Japanese shoecare brands. Is Brift H supposed to be good as well? Any others to keep my peepers peeled for?

Brift H cream is Good. Its cream based but has a low viscosity, so quite easy to spread/absorb (think Colonil 1909/Diamant). Although they come at a high price, I swear by it.

Another Brift H product thats also good is their High Shine Cleaner. Works like a miracle in removing built-up polish, or getting some grime off a leather wallet.

Brift H tin wax is also nice. It has a very high wax content, works quite similar to the Saphir mirror gloss polish. It feels dry and flaky from the start.

 

[edinatlanta]

Brift H cream is Good. Its cream based but has a low viscosity, so quite easy to spread/absorb (think Colonil 1909/Diamant). Although they come at a high price, I swear by it.

Another Brift H product thats also good is their High Shine Cleaner. Works like a miracle in removing built-up polish, or getting some grime off a leather wallet.

Brift H tin wax is also nice. It has a very high wax content, works quite similar to the Saphir mirror gloss polish. It feels dry and flaky from the start.

Thanks. I haven't been able to get a mirror shine no matter what technique I use although I just watched the Brift H video on the Armoury and he got a shine in 10 minutes. tf. I have the Saphir Mirror Gloss and some other creams and waxes from Saphir and Burgos.

I'll pick up some of the Brift stuff when over there. I know you've posted places before to do this (and I hate to be the type of person who asks these questions and Im gonna bookmark your answer) where can I get a mirror shine done in Tokyo? My vanity is gonna get the better of me and I'm gonna bring like four pairs of shoes for a five-day trip.

 

[nutcracker]

Thanks. I haven't been able to get a mirror shine no matter what technique I use although I just watched the Brift H video on the Armoury and he got a shine in 10 minutes. tf. I have the Saphir Mirror Gloss and some other creams and waxes from Saphir and Burgos.

I'll pick up some of the Brift stuff when over there. I know you've posted places before to do this (and I hate to be the type of person who asks these questions and Im gonna bookmark your answer) where can I get a mirror shine done in Tokyo? My vanity is gonna get the better of me and I'm gonna bring like four pairs of shoes for a five-day trip.

For shoeshining in Tokyo, some nice choices are:

Brift H in Aoyama
TWTG (Shop in shop) at Union Works Shibuya
`maestro’ Shoeshine at United Arrows Roppongi
Chiba Special at Yurakucho (Kotsu Kaikan Building 1F): old street style shoeshining

 

[Oshare]

For shoeshining in Tokyo, some nice choices are:

Brift H in Aoyama
TWTG (Shop in shop) at Union Works Shibuya
`maestro’ Shoeshine at United Arrows Roppongi
Chiba Special at Yurakucho (Kotsu Kaikan Building 1F): old street style shoeshining

There's also a guy with a small booth in Akihabara (electronics town) Atre shopping building if you happen to be in that area. He used to work for Chiba Special but runs his own place now: https://waltz-jp.com/

 

[konoyaro]

I've been pleased with Kutsumigaki Honpo in the Wings Building just outside of Shinbashi station near the east exit . The Wings building itself is a interesting throwback to 50's / 60's Tokyo with some of it's restaurants and bars.
Last time I was at Kutsumigaki Honpo one of the staff noticed my bag from Edoya and he showed a couple brushes he'd acquired from them.

http://kutsumigakihonpo.jp/

For shoeshining in Tokyo, some nice choices are:

Brift H in Aoyama
TWTG (Shop in shop) at Union Works Shibuya
`maestro’ Shoeshine at United Arrows Roppongi
Chiba Special at Yurakucho (Kotsu Kaikan Building 1F): old street style shoeshining

 

[Bic Pentameter]

I was looking at shoe products last weekend. Isetan Men's had a selection of Boot Black creams, but Tokyo Hands (the one in Takashimaya Times Square in Shinjuku) had a larger selection of products and a greater selection of Boot Black colors. I think that the prices may have been the same.

For what it is worth, Boot Black is made by Columbus.

Bic

 

[DapperAndy]

Thanks. I haven't been able to get a mirror shine no matter what technique I use although I just watched the Brift H video on the Armoury and he got a shine in 10 minutes. tf. I have the Saphir Mirror Gloss and some other creams and waxes from Saphir and Burgos.

I'll pick up some of the Brift stuff when over there. I know you've posted places before to do this (and I hate to be the type of person who asks these questions and Im gonna bookmark your answer) where can I get a mirror shine done in Tokyo? My vanity is gonna get the better of me and I'm gonna bring like four pairs of shoes for a five-day trip.

The trick is to layer water and just use the wax as a stabilizer, once you get the base. That's how the reflection occurs.
Otherwise, I'm just appreciating reading all the recommendations of places to visit for an upcoming Tokyo trip

 

[nutcracker]

Also worth mentioning..
ISETAN MEN’s doesn’t usually offer mirror-shine service, but they do have a nice dedicated shoe bar, where once month, they invite a guest shoeshiner to helm.
Past shoeshiners include John Chung (Mason & Smith Singapore) Yuya Hasegawa (Brift H), Ishimi Go and Terashima Naoki (TWTG), and also our very own Steve Hung (OAK ROOM Taiwan)

Not sure who will be invited for this month (May), but definitely worth checking it out first if you happen to be in Tokyo.

 

[konoyaro]

Mitsukoshi Ginza is also worth considering. Mitsukoshi Ginza has a "while you wait" shine service in addition to visiting shoe shiners and workshops. Since Isetan has merged with Mitsukoshi some of the guest artisans visit both venues.

https://i.isetan.co.jp/mitsukoshi/g...mens-club-where-sophisticated-men-gather.html
https://www.masonandsmith.com/blogs/blog/recap-of-the-japan-shoe-shine-championship

Also worth mentioning..
ISETAN MEN’s doesn’t usually offer mirror-shine service, but they do have a nice dedicated shoe bar, where once month, they invite a guest shoeshiner to helm.
Past shoeshiners include John Chung (Mason & Smith Singapore) Yuya Hasegawa (Brift H), Ishimi Go and Terashima Naoki (TWTG), and also our very own Steve Hung (OAK ROOM Taiwan)

Not sure who will be invited for this month (May), but definitely worth checking it out first if you happen to be in Tokyo.

 

[JordanH.]

View attachment 1126032 Here are three pair I received in spring of '18

View attachment 1126033

Bit loafers are illmatic...and here I thought you were only a sneakerhead