Hirofumi Kurino visits FOOTWORKS, a specialty store that offers custom-made insoles

Nice to meet you. Can I sit here?

Please put your luggage down. Is this your first time ordering custom insoles?

Yes. I didn't even know such a store existed. But I've been buying various insoles from the market for quite some time now and using different ones depending on the shoes I'm wearing. It's just my own style, though.

Have you ever felt unwell?

To tell you the truth, I used to suffer a lot from lower back pain and sciatica. But I discovered Qigong 12 years ago and it got a lot better. I learned firsthand that the internal organs and shoulders are connected by meridians, and that the soles of your feet that touch the ground are important. That's why I've been looking forward to coming here.

Today I'm wearing the New Balance 990. I love how comfortable it is to walk in. I get either a size 9 or a size 9.5. I buy either one on a case-by-case basis and adjust the insoles accordingly.

You always pay attention to your feet.

I have a pair of loafers from ALDEN that I bought 34 years ago when I founded UNITED ARROWS, and I've been wearing them ever since, repairing the outer heels as they wear down.

Now, let's get started by taking a footprint. Please place one foot on this footprint printer and stand on both feet.

You can take impressions of your feet on paper without getting them dirty. Where is this made?

It says it was made in West Germany, so it must have been made before the reunification of East and West Germany. It's an analog tool, but it's easy to use, so I like using it.

Mori-san, what can you tell from my footprint?

First, you can see that more weight is on the right foot. The big toe and heel are darker, and the middle is slightly weaker. To put it bluntly, the front and back of the foot are like a seesaw, and it seems like the foot isn't very good at balancing.

Oh, I see.

Also, it's ideal for there to be no color between the big toe and the ball of the foot, meaning that it's not in contact with the ground, but in Kurino's case, there is a little color there, which means that her foot is slightly apart in the direction of travel.

You can tell this immediately by looking at the footprint.

No, actually, when Kurino-san came into the store, I watched her standing and walking, and I had a pretty good idea. Taking her footprints was a way of confirming that answer.

Is that so? Amazing.

The purpose of making insoles is to help the body stand upright and walk straight. Most people have developed long-standing habits that prevent them from properly placing their weight on the soles of their feet. The correct way to walk is to stand with the index toes of both feet parallel and with your feet pointing straight in the direction of travel, but most people's feet tend to turn outward.

If your feet are twisted in the direction you walk, your knees, hip joints, pelvis, internal organs, spine, and even neck will all be twisted, which can cause back pain and migraines.

So, isn't it better to stand like a ballerina?

This is not a recommended way to walk. If the tires of a car were angled outwards, they would twist with each revolution, eventually damaging the car.

I see, that's an easy-to-understand analogy.

However, it is almost impossible to change the way you distribute your weight and walk, which have been ingrained in your body, just by being conscious of it. Insoles are a tool that can correct this. Now, let's actually make the insoles by looking at the impression of Kurino's foot that we took earlier.

What brand is the base insole?

These were ordered from Germany. The general curve of the sole of the foot was already in place, but the parts to be added to guide Kurino's foot into the correct position were cut out of foam rubber sheet, attached with glue, and then sanded down with a grinder.

Just by looking at the footprint, you can determine how much and where to add parts. Where did you learn this method?

I follow in my father's footsteps.

Does your father have the same job?

That's right. My mother had a lot of physical discomfort, so my father took her to the chiropractor every day. While watching the other patients, my father noticed that they were in good posture right after treatment, but by the time they reached the parking lot, they had reverted to their previous bad posture, and he thought that it was probably because of their shoes or the way they were walking.

From there, my father taught himself how to make insoles, and after much trial and error, he arrived at the best shape.He then made it his job, and now he also makes insoles for athletes.

That's great.

The insoles we make today will not be brought to their best condition right away. If we start with a finished insole, it may cause discomfort or pain to your body. First, we will have you get used to the insoles we make today, and then you will come back in about a month for fine adjustments. This process will be repeated until the insoles are complete by your third visit.

It's like a temporary tooth that dentists use.

Place the insole you just finished carving on the bottom of your foot. Now try standing up.

Ah, it feels different from before.

Today, I'm raising my heels a little to match the heels of the sneakers that Kurino-san is wearing. How does it feel? It's easier to naturally put weight on your toes. Can you see how your shoulders and chest are opening up as well?

I know! I feel like I've grown taller.

Try putting this insole into your sneakers.

You put it on top of the insole that was originally in the sneakers.

Now that we've set it up, let's put on our sneakers and take a walk.

Wow. It's so refreshing, like seeing humans walk on two legs for the first time (laughs).

Stretch your legs straight in the direction of travel. Your stride on the right is a little larger, so try taking a larger step on the left. Look into the distance and swing your arms to stabilize your upper body. It's a good idea to walk with the image of pushing off the ground with your thumb and index finger.

I'm definitely feeling different. I'm a naturally positive person, but it seems like my mood has become even more positive (laughs).

I think that improving your walking style will have a positive effect on your mental health.

It's been about 150 years since the average Japanese person started wearing shoes on a daily basis, right? This means that the history of shoes is much shorter than in the West, so perhaps our feet are not used to them. However, standing and walking straight is important when wearing Western clothes, so insoles are extremely important.

Can these insoles be used in other shoes?

Boots, sneakers, and lace-up shoes with heels slightly higher than the toes can be used. However, loafers, which don't have a high heel, are not suitable.

Is it also effective for bunions?

One customer has been using our insoles for two years and says that the pain from his bunion has completely disappeared and his sensitivity to cold has also been cured. It seems that the symptoms have been alleviated because it makes it easier to use his toes.

How long will the insoles last once made?

It takes about two years. We keep the footprints here, and then we take a new footprint after two years and make a new pair.

After two years, your body will age, you may get sick, and the condition of your feet will surely change. It's great that taking your footprints isn't just a one-time thing, it's an ongoing relationship with the store. And footprint also means "footprint." Taking footprints regularly means leaving a mark on your life...that's kind of cool.

Normally, the store owner would say "thank you" to the customer, but ever since I was a child I'd seen customers say to my father, "Thanks to you, I'm feeling better, thank you," and I wanted to be like that someday.

Being able to communicate this directly in-store is one of the joys of offline shopping. Thank you for today. See you in a month!