*FUGA Official Website: https://fugakyoto.jp/
*Try on and purchase available at flagship store “FUGA Kyoto Arashiyama”
Table of Contents
A Cultural Revolution Starting from Your Feet—Thousand-Year Traditions Reborn
The traditional craft of “Nishijin-ori,” passed down for a thousand years in Kyoto’s Nishijin district, is breathing new life into modern lifestyles.
The innovative sneaker brand “FUGA” launched by Sakura Corporation in July 2025 centers on “fusion”—where tradition meets innovation, culture meets function—offering a truly unique footwear experience.
A New Experience of “Wearing Japan”
Each pair of “FUGA” shoes is woven with Kyoto’s atmosphere and the craftsman’s soul.
With every step, you feel the breath of “Japan” accompanying your daily life.
Truly—”Wearing Japan.” From your feet up, quiet yet powerful Japanese beauty quietly resides in your everyday life. This brand concept proposes cultural value that transcends mere footwear.
Overwhelming Presence Created by Traditional Craft Materials
Kinran (Gold Brocade)—Magnificent Beauty Inherited from Armor to Modern Times
FUGA shoe uppers use traditional “Kinran” sourced from Kyoto’s Bando Shoten.
This luxury textile has a history of being used for armor and Noh costumes.
It features three-dimensional, gorgeous patterns woven with silk threads and gold-silver threads, with manufacturing processes that incorporate remarkable craftsmanship.
At Bando Shoten, only about 30 meters are woven per day on a single loom through an extremely careful process.
The process from order to completion takes approximately 3 months as follows:
- 1. Dyeing – Delicate work creating the foundation of color
- 2. Warping – Preparing warp thread rolls and setting them on the loom
- 3. Weaving – Thread-by-thread weaving by craftsmen’s hands
- 4. Finishing – Quality assurance through sizing and inspection work
Each process is handled by specialized craftsmen through division of labor, ensuring incomparable quality.
Most remarkably, due to the characteristic of Kinran having different expressions with each bolt, the pattern appearance differs for each pair, making every shoe a one-of-a-kind piece in the world.
Kyo-kumihimo—A Beautiful Legacy from the Heian Period
The shoelaces use “Kyo-kumihimo.”
This technique is a traditional braiding technology dating from the Heian period, historically used for kimono obi-jime and tea ceremony utensil decorations.
By combining dozens of fine threads, it achieves both durability and flexibility, creating unique luster and coloring.
By carefully braiding several to dozens of threads while crossing them, beautiful three-dimensional braided patterns with deep shadows emerge on the surface.
This Kyo-kumihimo adds quiet presence to your feet.
Brand Concept “Fuga” and the Fusion of Innovation
The name “FUGA” carries deep meaning.
One is the Japanese word “Fuga” symbolizing Japanese aesthetic sensibility. Fuga is Japan’s unique aesthetic of feeling nature, seasons, and the quietness deep within the heart.
The other is the initials of four English words:
- Fusion – Harmony between tradition and modernity
- Unique – One-of-a-kind value in the world
- Generation × Great – Universal value transcending generations
- Authenticity × Amazing – Amazing experiences only genuine items possess
Therefore, FUGA is a name meaning “fusing tradition and innovation, conveying true beauty across generations.”
Three Models Proposing Diverse Lifestyles
Easy in (40,700 yen) – Japanese Aesthetic Consciousness Blending into Daily Life
The main feature is a design that allows you to slip on “smoothly” without using hands, with a softly designed heel section that makes foot insertion surprisingly smooth.
It balances functionality that accompanies busy modern people’s daily lives with refined Japanese aesthetic consciousness.
Standard (41,800 yen) – Classic Model Perfecting Versatility
Neither too narrow nor too thick—the form designed with exquisite balance works regardless of scene, from city walks to travel exploration to business casual.
This pair directly conveys FUGA’s appeal to those experiencing it for the first time.
RGS (46,200 yen) – Ultimate Fusion of Propulsion and Beauty
The bow-shaped sole design flexibly accompanies foot movement, providing a natural walking sensation as if being guided.
The innovative design absorbs impact upon landing while converting that energy into propulsion for the next step.
World-Standard Technology Supporting Functionality
All models adopt Italy’s Vibram “MEGA GRIP” soles, which have proven performance in harsh environments including mountaineering, skiing, and running.
Excellent grip and flexibility support comfortable walking in all scenarios.
A Sacred Place Born in Kyoto Arashiyama
The brand’s first flagship store “FUGA Kyoto Arashiyama” opened on Saturday, July 12 in Kyoto’s Arashiyama.
In this special place where tourists and locals intersect, they provide the unique FUGA experience of touching, wearing, and walking in traditional craft beauty.
Store Information
- Name: Flagship Store “FUGA Kyoto Arashiyama”
- Address: 20-24 Sagatenryuji Tsukurimichi-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
- Business Hours: 10:00～18:00
- FUGA Official Website: https://fugakyoto.jp/
- Instagram: @fuga_kyoto
Innovative Challenge Pioneering the Future of Traditional Crafts
With changing times, Japanese handicrafts and culture are gradually disappearing.
FUGA was born from a sense of crisis that it would be too regrettable for this beauty and technique to be forgotten as the number of people inheriting them decreases.
Based on the philosophy that tradition continues to live not just by “protecting” it but by “utilizing” it, they have created entirely new value by fusing Japanese traditional materials and techniques with “sneakers,” an indispensable part of modern lifestyle.
Summary – Cultural Renaissance Starting from Your Feet
What FUGA proposes is not merely a fashion item.
It is cultural innovation demonstrating new possibilities for Nishijin-ori, which while being traditional craft, has continuously evolved with the times.
The fusion of striking design that captivates hearts at first glance with craftsmanship passed down across a thousand years is broadcasting new aesthetics from modern people’s feet.
“Step into uniqueness”—FUGA’s message indicates a firm step toward the future of traditional crafts.
This brand, which revives Kyoto’s quiet aesthetic consciousness in modern times and broadcasts it to the world, will become a new milestone in Japan’s traditional craft industry.
