Japanese shoes

While there is interest in Japanese racing shoes in the US, it would still be a very small niche market. I don't think it is their "image" of the west, but more the actual sales numbers. How many 2110s or Kayanos are sold in the US versus DS Racers?

Actually, adidas is offering 5-6 racing flats for 2007. The lightest is listed at 3.9 ounces, so maybe they will fill some of the demand.

You are probably right it wouldn't be a big market but it would be appreciated.

Thanks for the info. You'd think they'd put an option on their website?

There wasn't a contact person's name made available for US customers to buy the lighter shoes, either?

Thanks for taking the time to post your message anyway, it is appreciated and was very nice of you.

You're welcome. He didn't seem particulary interested in continuing the conversation. He kind of gave me the brush off after a short chat. I think he was just interested in telling me that he designed the shoe... though I am sure he is a basically nice guy.

A friend of mine with a solid connection to Asics Japan has been trying for years to get some of their Japanese shoes into the US market and it doesn't seem like Asics has any plans to do that. I don't think they've ever given hims a clear "yes/no" answer, nor have they really explained their thinking. But there was a time I was hopeful and I no longer am.

It would be a niche market. Maybe the thing for someone to do is travel to Japan and buy large numbers of their shoes, preferably at wholesale, to bring back for resale in the US. Heck, you could make a business of it. Call it, say Blue Ribbon Sports.

I have a pair of the Adidas AdiZero CS, one of the Adidas Japanese shoes they have released this year. They are a great lightweight trainer/racer but the problem with them is the Japanese last. The forefoot is HUGE and sloppy. Adidas shoes are typically narrow and tapered but with all the AdiZero line they are built on the Japanese last. I have always liked adidas because of their narrow, fitted last but just a heads up these shoes will fit NOTHING like a typical adidas shoe.

I bet their sales figures for the US bear out what he told you about the US market.

I've worn the Adizero RC and the CS and they are both great shoes! Very light, flexible and comfortable. I like the wider forefoot, it lets your foot be free and spread out on the bottom of the shoe.

Yeah thanks for asking. I kinda got the same treatment from a NB rep when I started making a constructive suggestion regarding a minor detail on their shoe design, real patronizing. It would be great if someone could do what HRE suggests and I bet that someone like RRS could do it since they have nationwide sales and distribution and could probably be convinced to do something that will surely make them a little more profit.

I gave up on NB years ago.

i work at a a shoe store and sell on average 10-15 nimbus/kayanos per weekend, and maybe 10-15/month for the speedstar/ ds trainer

agree whole heartedly as the herders have overtaken the market

How high is the heel on the AdiZero? Heel height, or lack of it, is a big thing for me. I have one pair of Japanese Asics and there is only about a half inch under the heel and I don't know of any shoes sold in the US with that little other than spikeless racers.

Asics is ranging a version of this Japanese shoe in the U.S. in 2007. So your wish is granted.

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/tf-tsubaki/522838/666016/

That looks like the Sortie Magic that I have. How do you know they'll sell it here and will it be the same model or will they have altered it for the US market?

I just sent an e-mail to Road Runner Sports asking if they could try to get some of the Japanese Asics models to sell. Maybe if enough other people who'd like to get those shoes wrote to RRS and asked the same thing it would convince them there's a market.

Awesome do you know who will be retailing it?

Someone should get one of those online petitions going. If RRS is shown that there are 100+ people out there that will buy 4+ pair of those shoes a year then they might have to listen.

This has been disclosed publicly by one of the Asics guys on the Runnersworld forum. Sorry, I can't give any more info. If all the companies follow through with the current plans, there will be at least four low-heeled (5-7mm drop) choices marketed as racing flats (i.e., not including shoes like the Puma H Street).

Excuse me, at least 5 options, assuming that the Nike Katana Racer stays in the Nike U.S. range for 2007.

Amazing I don't know what people at RW would do with that info I thought they all raced in trainers.