Artisanal Excellence:
Japanese Craftsmanship Expressed through Handiwork
Onitsuka Tiger’s popular NIPPON MADE series expresses the exacting essence of Japanese craftsmanship.
Here, we explore the meticulous handiwork of our artisans, dedicated to creating timeless value.
Each shoe, after the washing anddyeing processes, is carefully handshapedand the material massaged.No two shoes are the same, well mightthey follow the same manufacturingmethod. The artisans adjust theirtouch to suit each shoe’s uniquepersonality, in a small additional stepthat gives the shoes a rich and deepexpression.
In the preliminary washing process before dyeing, the shoes are gentlycleansed by immersing them in water at 45°C–50°C with added oil.
During the dyeing process, a unique proprietary dye formulation is used,with the immersion temperature and duration fine-tuned daily based on the ambienttemperature and humidity. As the color changes moment by moment during theprocess, each shoe is dyed with precise care to attain the desired hue.
After shaping, all the shoes are hung to dry. It is vital that the shoes be allowedto dry slowly, giving sufficient time for internal moisture to evaporate fully. Thisprocess requires several days, using fans or stoves as needed to accommodate forannual changes in climate.
The NIPPON MADE series exemplifies theexcellence of Japanese craftsmanship tothe world—rich in artisanal spirit, made withquality materials, and produced throughextraordinary skill. Each pair of shoesundergoes meticulous finishing processeshandled by our same factory, which has notonly been involved in the NIPPON MADEseries since its development, but also has avast reservoir of knowledge and expertisefrom which to draw.
“Ever since I was a boy, I’ve preferred comfy,worn-in shoes to brand-new ones fresh outof the box,” our factory representative sayscheerfully, gently shaping a pair of freshlyprocessed shoes with both hands. “Byspending time dyeing and washing them likethis, we can give our customers the feel andcomfort of shoes that seem like they’vebeen worn lovingly for years from the daythey buy them. Each shoe might look thesame at first glance, but look closer andyou’ll see their unique character.”
At this factory, where each pair of shoes iscarefully crafted by hand, the number ofshoes that can be produced each day islimited. This dedication is what gives rise tothe deep textures and rich expressionsunique to the NIPPON MADE series, settingit apart from the ordinary models.
“Sometimes, I visit Onitsuka Tiger storesand see customers picking up and buyingshoes that we’ve worked on. So even whileI’m working like this, I often think of thosecustomers and imagine their faces. Itmotivates me to take even more care, tomake even better shoes every day.”
Japanese craf tsmanship, celebratedworldwide, is extraordinary not just for itstechniques, but for the heartfelt dedicationand consideration it has for eventualowners, and is imbued with kindness andcare into each and every product.
