The thoughts of the makers of Okumura "Slippers"
Laughing cheerfully every day" created from the feet up.
Etsuko Kamakari, Chairman
Okumura is a long-established slipper manufacturer that has introduced many unique products, such as "Foot Comfort,"
which thoroughly pursues a comfortable fit, and "3D Comfort," which can also be expected to correct gait. We interviewed Ms. Kamakari, the chairman of Okumura, about his thoughts on the company.
Slippers "Born in Japan"
With the end of Japan's isolation from the rest of the world, which lasted for more than 200 years during the Meiji period (1868-1912), people from overseas who did not have the custom of taking their shoes off indoors had more opportunities to visit Japan. Under such circumstances, it is said that the footwear that became the prototype for today's slippers was created as an item that could be worn over shoes to prevent dirt from getting in the way. As Western-style clothing became popular, slippers spread throughout Japan and developed in their own unique way.
When you return home or go up to someone's house, you take off your shoes.
The Japanese culture, which is very conscious of the distinction between the inside and outside of the house, and the inside and outside of the dojo in martial arts, has nurtured slippers as a tool to be worn inside the room.
As indoor footwear, slippers have become an integral part of daily life, both for indoor use and as hospitality for visitors. In recent years, slippers have also attracted attention as an accompaniment for teleworkers and as disaster prevention goods to protect feet from falling objects and cold.
After walking many kilometers or standing for long periods of time, your legs get tired because you are standing or moving.
If we go through such "natural" things, we come to the conclusion that there is a localized load on them. In this sense, slippers are "better to wear" for the feet, according to Mr. Kamakari.
While standing, your feet are supporting the entire weight of your body, so naturally there is a heavy load on them. This is especially true when you are walking on hard surfaces such as wood or concrete flooring.
By inserting slippers between the toes and heels, the slippers absorb the shock and distribute the weight that tends to be concentrated on the toes and heels. This, he says, helps alleviate foot fatigue.
By wearing slippers, people can take much better care of their feet than if they were barefoot, even when they are inside the house.
Among Okumura's products, "Foot Kai" and "3D Comfort" are especially designed to "fit" the feet comfortably.
Both of these slippers have a form that is distinctly different from ordinary slippers, with the part of the slipper that touches the sole of the foot being raised significantly.
The "Foot Kai" series are slippers especially designed to be worn for long hours. The eight sizes available, which is unusual for slippers, are also intended to provide a slipper that is more suited to a person's feet.
The company has many repeat customers, including fans of its predecessor, the "Foot Raku" series, and the slippers are popular for their "once you put them on, you can't put them down" comfort.
The "3D Comfort" is characterized by a more three-dimensional structure, with a low-set heel in addition to a raised sole. We took data from many people's feet and performed 3D mapping to find the optimal shape from an ergonomic standpoint.
The development process took more than three years. The shoes fit snugly to the soles of the feet, and their comfortable, enveloping fit supports the comfort of the wearer.
The quality of these slippers is so high that they are used as premium room slippers in first-class hotels.
In addition, they also function as gait correction slippers.
People tend to lean forward even when they are conscious of it. Poor posture is not only aesthetically unpleasing, but can also have a negative impact on the internal organs and other parts of the body.
The lowered heel of the 3D Comfort slipper pulls back the center of gravity, which tends to tilt forward, and supports an ideal walking posture.
This product embodies Okumura's keywords: "heal," "cure," and "train.
View slippers not as mere footwear, but as an item that relieves fatigue from the feet and is beneficial to one's health. Okumura creates good products that people will love as a part of their living space, just like furniture or interior design.
This is Okumura's approach to product development. Rather than selling low-priced products and making profits through mass production, Okumura has established itself as a manufacturer by focusing on the quality of each product and creating products that cannot be found anywhere else.
Slippers, too, have evolved over our long history, with many new ones being created. Whenever a new trend emerges, we try to think, 'Then, what will come next? We try to think, 'Well, what's coming next? I think it is important to always think ahead in order to create something that will truly please our customers.
In addition to discussions among employees, the company regularly holds roundtable discussions with local mothers who have the perspective of "consumers" who use slippers. Ideas are actively gathered from both inside and outside the company and are linked to the development of new products.
Recently, as people spend more time at home, there seems to be a renewed interest in the old-fashioned "careful living," in which one becomes attached to and cherishes each and every object around them and lives peacefully. Now that the importance of "home time" has been reaffirmed, I think there are things that people are choosing that are 'nice.
The "Tenugui Slipper," created in collaboration with "Kamawanu," a tenugui towel specialty store popular for its stylish designs, is one such item that supports "polite living.
In addition to its cute design, the slippers are made of tenugui fabric, which is soft to the touch, lightweight, and comfortable to the feet as they are used. There are two ways to wear them: by stepping on the heel for easy on/off, or by wearing them as room shoes for easier movement. The product is designed to be used as a "favorite" item in various aspects of daily life.
Okumura has been working with slippers for more than 120 years.
Okumura has been able to introduce many new ideas to the world because it has seen the potential of slippers as more than just indoor footwear and has continued to take on new challenges.
We believe that slippers can become an item that enriches people's lives by pursuing such things as comfort, such as the fit and lightness of the footwear, unique designs, and the feeling of becoming "one's own thing" as one uses the slippers more and more. I believe that slippers can become an item that enriches people's lives.
Wearing slippers that fit your feet. Wearing slippers that fit your feet is an act of caring for your feet.
Rest, moderate exercise, nutritional supplements, and taking care of your body after it has been damaged.
Each of these daily activities will help you live a healthy life.
Slippers make more people's feet healthy. Make people's lives more enjoyable and comfortable.
Okumura's slippers, filled with hope, support people's feet.
Okumura Corporation
Postal Code 556-0006
Okumura No.2 Building 4F and 5F, 1-7-17 Nihonbashi-Higashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan
A long-established slipper manufacturer that has been producing and selling slippers for over 120 years since its establishment in 1895. With the keywords of "heal," "cure," and "train," the company develops products that are not only comfortable and well-designed but also beneficial to one's health through wearing them.
