Shoe Day

What Is Shoe Day?

Every March 15th is "Shoe Day" (靴の記念日, Kutsu no Kinenbi) in Japan. The Japan Footwear Association established it in 1932 to mark the anniversary of a landmark event in Japanese modernization: on the 15th day of the third month of 1870 (old lunar calendar), businessman Nishimura Katsuzō opened Japan's first Western-style shoe factory — the Isekatsu Shoe Factory (伊勢勝造靴場) — in the Irifune-chō district of Tsukiji in Tokyo. This date marked the moment Japan began transitioning from traditional straw sandals (zōri, geta, waraji) to Western leather footwear — a change that literally and symbolically reflected the transformation of Meiji Japan.

From Straw Sandals to Leather Shoes: Japan's Footwear Revolution

Before the Meiji era, most Japanese wore traditional footwear — wooden clogs (geta), rush sandals (zōri), and straw sandals (waraji). The Meiji government's push toward Westernization, particularly for the military and government officials, created demand for Western leather boots and shoes. The Isekatsu factory was established at the suggestion of Ōmura Masujirō, regarded as the founder of the modern Japanese army, because imported military boots were too large for Japanese feet. A monument marking the "birthplace of the shoe industry" now stands at the site in Irifune, Chūō Ward. Within decades, Western shoes became standard for formal and business wear throughout Japan, while traditional footwear survived in cultural contexts — with yukata and kimono, at traditional inns (ryokan), and in martial arts dojos.

Japan's Shoe Industry Today

Japan has developed a thriving domestic shoe manufacturing tradition, with artisanal shoemakers in cities like Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo producing high-quality handcrafted leather shoes recognized internationally. At the same time, Japan is a major market for global footwear brands. The distinctive Japanese consumer culture around shoes — the expectation of removing footwear upon entering homes, schools, and many traditional establishments — continues to shape how shoes are designed, worn, and cared for in Japan.

Fun Facts About Japanese Shoe Culture

• The genkan (玄関): Japan's entryway culture — removing shoes before entering the home — means that footwear is treated as a separate domain from indoor life, which has influenced everything from architectural design to shoe hygiene.
• Uwabaki (上履き): Most Japanese schools have students to wear separate indoor shoes (uwabaki), a practice reflecting the cultural emphasis on maintaining cleanliness inside.
• Kobe shoes: Kobe is said to have become a center of Western-style shoemaking after local craftsmen learned shoe repair and shoemaking from foreign residents of the port city in the Meiji era.