Saturday, October 14, 2017

TBS Autumn 2017 drama "Rikuou" & Mizuno in collaboration to develop the Rikuou running shoes

TBS Autumn 2017 drama "Rikuou" & sports wear maker Mizuno have worked together to develop the Rikuou running shoes featured in the drama which begins its run from 15 October. In the story based on Ikeido Jun's novel, Yakusho Koji plays the lead character Miyazawa Koichi who is the 4th generation president of Japanese socks manufacturer Kobaseya based in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, which has been in business for more than 100 years. With the decline in demand for its products, the small company which has only 20 employees, strives to rejuvenate its business by entering the field of producing running shoes which feel as if you are barefooted. However, as the industry is very competitive and the company does not have sufficient funds, Kobaseya is faced with various challenges along its journey but Miyazawa strives on with the help of the people around him as they take on the bigwigs.

The drama's production team commented that in order to achieve reality when filming this drama, they had to approach a sports wear maker to create the running shoes thus giving birth to the collaboration with Mizuno. Although the running shoes look like any other design at first glance, the toes portion is made in such a way that it splits into two parts just like socks and this is the unique design conceptualised by the Mizuno team.

In conjunction with the broadcast of the drama, the posters announcing the development of these running shoes will feature Yakusho Koji with the Mizuno team designers and are already up in stores selling Mizuno merchandise since 7 October.

Sources: Nikkansports / Eiga.com

No comments: