Photo/Illutration Kazue Takahashi, president of Takahashi, and Hajime Maruyoshi, head of Shinjukuya, who jointly developed women’s shoes from shark leather, pose in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on Feb. 22. (Yusuke Hoshino)

KESENNUMA, Miyagi Prefecture--An Osaka-based maker of luxury women's shoes is responding to the kindness shown to its employee in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami by paying it forward to help this tremor-hit city.

Shinjukuya is working with Takahashi, a Japanese-style underwear manufacturer here, to offer a local specialty that they are hoping will take a big bite out of the women's footwear market. 

The two created footgear for female customers from the skin of blue sharks caught off Kesennuma, which boasts the largest haul of the predatory fish in Japan.

The shark leather shoes are softer and fit wearers’ feet better than cowhide footwear, according to Shinjukuya and Takahashi.

According to Hajime Maruyoshi, 50, president of Shinjukuya, a sales representative of the corporation was visiting Kesennuma when the magnitude-9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake struck the northeastern Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. 

Seeing the employee at a loss about how to return since there were no transportation means available on the heels of the temblor, local residents extended their support to the stranger.

Maruyoshi heard the story and became determined to “do something for the area’s reconstruction.”

He afterward spoke of the episode during his visit to the Kishi-Biz business support center in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, which offers advice for small and midsize enterprises free of charge.

The staff of Kishi-Biz then contacted its Kesennuma counterpart. The Kesennuma side put Maruyoshi in touch with Kazue Takahashi, 62, president of Takahashi, which continued making unique Japanesque items despite the damage caused by the tsunami.

In July 2021, Shinjukuya and Takahashi started a joint development program.

The finished shark leatherwork will come in two types: pumps and standard footwear. Each shoe weighs 220 grams, and an entire blue shark is used for producing a pair of the shoes.

As the characteristics of the waterproof gear are its durability and flexibility, the products are recommended for those suffering from hallux valgus, a deformity of the big toe, according to the developers.

“The leather size is smaller than those from outside Japan, rendering processing difficult,” said Maruyoshi during an event held Feb. 22 to unveil the offerings in Kesennuma. “I hope as much money as possible will go to Kesennuma.”

Takahashi talked about the appeal of shoes made of sharkskin.

“I was impressed by how comfortable it is to don the footwear,” Takahashi said. “The products are promising as they can be used for a long time, providing another advantage.”

Pumps and standard shoes are priced at 107,800 yen ($933) and 132,000 yen, including tax, respectively. The footwear will be made to order with sales expected to begin between March and April at the earliest.

The special shoes will be offered by Kesennuma city as gifts under the “furusato nozei” (hometown tax payment) program as well.

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