In the first episode of our five-part Sole Searching: Tokyo series, we spent most of our day in Asakusa, Tokyo’s historic shoemaking area that’s by far the most walkable boot epicenter in Tokyo—and visit the wonderful Rolling Dub Trio, Zerrows, and Brother Bridge retail shops.
Episode 2 started in Tokyo’s always-vibrant Harajuku neighborhood to meet Attractions founder Tomo Nishizaki, before visits to Red Wing’s remarkable Aoyama shop, Jelado to meet The 2 Monkeys boots founder Michiya Suzuki, and Hopesmore, what surely must be the world’s greatest vintage boots store, filled to the brim with Red Wings, White’s Boots, Russell Moccasins, Vibergs, Danners, and more—many of which can only be found for sale under that particular roof.
In Episode 3, we’ll head to perhaps the most internationally romanticized Japanese bootmaker: Clinch by Brass Tokyo. In the workshop below a small retail store in Tokyo’s Setagaya City, Clinch founder Minoru Matsura and his team combine top-flight materials with precise craftsmanship to create boots that are designed to last as long as the vintage one Minoru used to repair, and age with preternatural purpose and beauty along the way.
From there, it’s off to Shibuya, to climb to the top level of an otherwise unassuming ABC Mart to visit the Stumptown shop, an absolute treasure trove of Japanese-only models from White’s Boots and Danner Boots, two iconic American brands that are rightly revered in Japan. There we’ll meet Tai Ikeoka, a former White’s bootmaker in Spokane who now runs the Stumptown boot repair shop.
And finally: the Addict Clothes store in Setagaya, to spend time with Addict founder Satoshi Ishijima, who takes us through the Addict Boots lineup and gives endless insight into his decision-making and inspiration—all while surrounded by a ridiculously wonderful collection of the vintage British motorcyles that are also repaired and restored…right in the shop.
After three straight days in factories, retail shops, and more, common threads are clear in Tokyo boot culture: craftsmanship, quality, consideration of the smallest details, and pushing boundaries just the right amount. This unique synthesis of subtle personal twists and time-honored methods is a massive part of what makes Tokyo’s footwear scene as remarkable as you could find anywhere in the world.