Photo: Atmos
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New adidas Hachiko sneakers pay homage to Shibuya’s famous loyal dog

20 Comments
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24

Global sporting brands have been spoiling Japanese customers over the years with exclusive kicks dedicated to Super Mario, Godzilla and even Hello Kitty. Now, sporting giant adidas is paying homage to a real-life Japanese character with its latest sneaker release, and it’s simply called Hachiko.

For those who don’t know the story behind the name — Hachiko was an Akita dog who would wait outside Shibuya Station every day for his master, a professor at the University of Tokyo, to return home. On one fateful day in 1925, however, the professor didn’t return home, as he had died from a cerebral hemorrhage while at work. Yet Hachiko sat there waiting for his master, returning to the station day after day to faithfully await his return.

▼ Sadly, his master never returned, and Hachiko waited outside the station every day until his death nine years later.

Hachiko-1.jpg
Photo: Wikipedia

The touching story of Hachiko went on to inspire books and films, including a Hollywood movie called "Hachi: A Dog’s Tale," starring Richard Gere. Hachiko is still remembered to this day with a statue on the grounds of Tokyo University and a statue outside Shibuya Station, where one of the exits is also named after him.

▼ Now, the faithful dog is being remembered with a new pair of Adidas sneakers, created in collaboration with Harajuku-based sneaker store atmos.

Adidas-Japan-sneaker.jpg

The new sneakers are the third drop in the limited-edition “Shibuya Pack” created by Adidas and atmos.

▼ The first instalment in the Shibuya Pack was Yoyogi Park, which captures the city park in autumn hues…

Yoyogi-park.jpg

▼ And the second was Denim, inspired by American casual street fashion, often seen on the streets of Shibuya, where it’s known as Amekaji.

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In our opinion, none of these sneakers capture the heart and soul of Shibuya quite like the new Hachiko model, which also goes by the name Superstar Dog, given that they’re based on Adidas’ Superstar model, but feature a furry surface to resemble the fur of Hachiko.

Adidas-Japan-sneaker.jpg

The tongue on each shoe features a silver-colored plate with the trefoil logo engraved on it, while the midsole reveals another nod to Hachiko — the Dogenzaka address where its statue sits outside Shibuya Station.

Adidas-Japan-sneaker.jpg

Over the years, Hachiko has become a well-known symbol of Shibuya, so it’s fitting that the famous dog appear as part of the Shibuya Pack. And to add to the heartwarming nature of Hachiko’s story, part of the profits from sales of the shoes will be returned to Shibuya as part of the “Shibuya Ward Official Souvenir Project” to help the neighborhood. Official goods affiliated with the project bear the “You Make Shibuya” logo mark, and this logo appears on the inner sole of the shoes.

The Hachiko sneakers retail for 15,400 yen, and given that demand is expected to be high, they’ll be available to purchase via a lottery system, with applications being accepted online.

These are definitely going to be a sought-after pair of kicks, especially with atmos likening them to “the resurrection of Hachiko”, so best of luck getting your hands on them, and feet into them.

Source: Atmos

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Asics Ukiyo-e x Manga sneakers combine modern and traditional Japan for Tokyo Marathon 2021

-- Hachiko, Japan’s most loyal dog, finally reunited with owner in heartwarming new statue in Tokyo

-- Masks appear on statues of Japan’s loyal dog Hachiko, but only one gets to keep it【Photos】

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

20 Comments
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Should have put the logo of Hachiko at the back instead of Adidas.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Dogs have a pure and beautiful soul. I am not so sure about this shoe. I would prefer to memorialize the tender loyalty of this wonder canine friend in something that I am not walking on every day. It almost seems disrespectful of Hachiko.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"Furry" sneakers? Not my thing.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Dog owners who buy these should beware, the furry surface would be very attractive to pets who enjoy chewing on shoes, especially 15,400 yen shoes!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Cool. You can pet my feet.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My dog will chew and make short work of this shoe. Also, my dog is very possessive so if she comes to know of the shoes association with another dog she will bark at me all day long.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I love dogs. I cannot imagine ever wanting to encase my feet in faux dog fur (it is faux, isn't it?) any more than I would ever want to encase any other part of my body in animal skin, faux or otherwise.

Dogs are for petting, not wearing.

The Yoyogi and Denim ones look OK, though I can't see myself forking out that kind of money for a pair of casual shoes.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Dogs have a pure and beautiful soul

Not all of them. That’s a good thing.

One of my Jack Russells ripped a rat to pieces in the garden. I was obviously grateful to her for earning her keep, but looking at the mess, she seemed to take a bit too much pleasure out of it for my liking.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I'll wear these when my dogs are barking.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I like the design and colour.

$140.97, plus the furry stuff.

Am shoving my foot into Marley, Lassies faux virtual nether regions?

I do like the design.

The practicality?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Scooby Doo is in counseling, terrified to be remembered as footwear.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

One of my Jack Russells ripped a rat to pieces in the garden. I was obviously grateful to her for earning her keep, but looking at the mess, she seemed to take a bit too much pleasure out of it for my liking.

We see our doggies differently. My male Husky did in a rat right in front of me. He earned high praise. Gooood boy. Likewise he left me a few rat carcasses, basically a rib cage and a tail. Gunnar loves to protein snack! Again high praise and hugs. I love my Gunnar. He has a heart of gold.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

My dog will chew and make short work of this shoe. 

It's a funny thing but my dogs never chew my shoes or any of my possessions. They will chew my wife's shoes though, and only her best shoes at that,, but not mine. In fact one of our dogs likes to take an article of my clothes out of the laundry basket and lay it on his bed to sleep on so he can smell my smell. Dogs are so weird but lovable!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And is Adidas paying any royalties for exploiting the dog’s name? To the family perhaps? No?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

is Adidas paying any royalties for exploiting the dog’s name?

Does someone hold the rights to the dog's name? If so, then Adidas should definitely pay them. If not, then why should they pay anyone?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So lets get some Adidas Superstars and throw some brown fur on it.... umm no thanks, just dumb looking shoes to me

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think turning such a passionate remembrance into consumer goods is as tacky as Susan B Anthony purses. If the station itself were selling Hachiko goods for a good cause Id buy it. But this cash grab makes me a bit sick.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dogs are great.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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