This business trip to Tokyo was not only for business negotiations with customers, but also for
Visiting a friend's atelier that I've always wanted to visit.
Tomohiro Nagasawa, the owner of the OTTOMO brand, has been with him for 15 years.
I met him when I was working in a warehouse for a famous brand company that everyone knows.
It all started with a group of people showing me around jobs and facilities.
His face and beard are so dark and his limbs are long that you might ask, ``Are you really Japanese?''
Furthermore, it was raining on the first day we met,
Mr. Nagasawa's naturally permed head looked like it was about to explode, making him look even more foreign.
I remember that the conversation started with, ``I'm a native Japanese and I'm from Ichikawa (lol).''
After that, as we talked about various things, we strangely hit it off,
We became friends and went out for drinks after work,
According to the story, he traveled to Italy alone to become a shoemaker.
When I was in my early 20s, I didn't know anyone and went to Italy.
His training destination is Roberto Ugolini, a master Italian shoe maker.
He is one of the famous shoe craftsmen that anyone who loves shoes must have heard of.
In Japan, ``Spigola'' and ``Corno Blue'' are also famous as Mr. Ugolini's disciples.
The person in question had studied hard in an Italian language class when he was in Japan, so he was able to speak the language somehow, but
His life as an apprentice was said to have been very difficult due to extreme poverty.
However, his passion for shoes and the joy of living in Italy became his driving force.
It was really stimulating for me to hear stories like that all the time.
Then, I asked for my shoes to be repaired and went out at night.
After working together for about a year, we each went our separate ways.
After that, we continued to be friends for some reason.
We kept in touch even after I started my own business in Hiroshima.
However, due to the influence of the coronavirus, I did not have the opportunity to meet him for a while.
At the same time as the reunion for the first time in seven years, the opening of the atelier,
We have all the happy news of a happy marriage.
The work he has seen for the first time in a while has been updated compared to before, so much so that even he himself talks about it.
It makes you realize that the long-awaited new star has started.
Each product is basically handmade, starting with measurements.
The price for completely bespoke shoes (custom-made shoes) is said to start from about ¥60,000.
I have had my work shown several times in the past,
I had no proof, but I thought that if I started a brand, it would definitely sell.
In fact, there are already so many orders that production cannot keep up.
Although it is not held as publicly as that, it seems that the pre-order events are very well received every time.
At the same time as the brand launch, we are also producing women's shoes, and shoes for wives are on display.
This is so cute.
Not only shoes, but also music, subculture, etc.
Mr. Nagasawa has a deep knowledge of many things, and you can tell just by talking to him about his good taste.
At the same time, I have a very strong craftsmanship and habit,
When ordering, it's important to be polite and listen honestly if there's anything you don't understand.
Well, it is common that "honesty" is important when talking with craftsmen.
By the way, I ordered it right away during my visit to the atelier this time.
It will be ready in two months at the earliest.
It's short boots, so I'm not in a hurry, but I don't think I'll buy anything else other than these leather shoes.
I don't find ready-made products interesting anymore,
If OTTOMO sells, you won't be able to buy it at the current price.
There is no doubt that not only the product is good but also the person himself is a good person.
From now on, he will be counted as one of Japan's leading shoe craftsmen.
The atelier is about a 7-minute walk from Hikifune Station in Sumida Ward.
It's a little far from the city, but if you would like to discuss the location of your business meeting, please contact us by bicycle. It seems that I will visit you there.
OTTOMO | OFFICE-N Atelier & Garally
〒131-0032
3-33-1 Higashimukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Google Map
You can check the atelier's business hours on the "OTTOMO official Instagram" .
