Craftsmanship
of
Japan

The Home of Craftsmanship

Shoes from THE ONITSUKA and NIPPON MADE series are made at Onitsuka Tiger’s in-house factory. Imbued within these products is the aesthetic of Japanese craftsmanship—spun by the skilled hands and heartfelt dedication of our artisans.

The making of THE ONITSUKA BROGUE: First, the upper parts are cut. A die is placed on top of the leather, and a cutting machine applies pressure and pulls the part out. The delicate perforations, or broguing, are embedded in the die, and the process requi res considerable skill to execute precisely.

  • Cutting the soles. The shelves are lined with sole dies organized by size.
  • A process called lasting, where the sewn uppers are shaped to fit the foot molds. The forefoot portion is initially done by machine.
  • The side lasting is performed by hand. It takes skilled artisans to make the stiff leather of THE ONITSUKA conform to the last.

Onitsuka Tiger’s in-house factory serves as our main production site in Japan—that is, the shoes produced here showcase Japanese craftsmanship around the world. Typically, our overseas factories focus on only one or two models on the production line to increase output. Our production department representative at the Japan site explains.
“Overseas, if we have fifty processes in operation, fifty workers will each handle only one process, with another worker inspecting their work. But in our kind of high-mix, smallbatch production the available workforce is limited. So it’s crucial that each person takes responsibility for their work and makes precise judgments before passing over for the next step. Each worker acts as their own inspector, doing everything they can before handing on to the next person. Ultimately, it comes down to the gradual accumulation of these individual efforts.”
Across the world, our factory’s ability to manufacture both dress shoes like THE ONITSUKA BROGUE and sneakers on the same production line is unparalleled.

  • When bonding the uppers and soles, a polishing process called buffing is performed to increase adhesive strength. Delicate craftmanship is essential to create a uniform surface.
  • After buffing is complete, adhesive is applied.
  • The adhesive is evenly applied to the upper to prevent distortion. The type of adhesive used depends on the materials being bonded.
  • After manually adhering the uppers and soles, they are secured and bonded using a press.
  • Inserting the insoles into the molded shoes and threading the laces. The artisan expertly threads the laces while ensuring there are no problems with the product.
  • A freshly finished THE ONITSUKA BROGUE. Each pair undergoes thorough inspection before being packaged and shipped worldwide.

While Onitsuka Tiger’s history of manufacturing business shoes acts as a foundation, it is the attitude and spirit of each and every artisan that makes it all possible.
Cut parts are sewn to create the uppers, which are shaped over a wooden last and bonded to the soles. Though the process sounds simple, for each model and material the techniques and necessary force differ subtly but significantly. The ability to respond to these variations with flexibility and meticulous care is a testament not only to Japanese humility and dedication, but also to the artisans’ unparalleled craftsmanship.
“Here, our employees remember every item they’ve made. The joy of meeting someone wearing their shoes and the desire to create something wonderful for them—that’s everything,” our representative adds.
Kihachiro Onitsuka visited this factory every year, sharing his passionate commitment for craftmanship with employees. Our artisans continue to work with humility and diligence to this day, taking pride in what is NIPPON MADE.

Proudly Made By Hand