Didn’t people once traverse the world on foot? The Japan Footwear Museum once stood as a testament to this history. It showcased footwear from across the globe. This museum was not in Osaka. It was located in Fukuyama City. It was a unique museum dedicated to shoes and sandals.
Let’s step back in time to understand the Japan Footwear Museum. In 1978, Maruyama Moesuke helped open the museum. It commemorated 100 years of shoemaking. The museum was managed by the Ihou Cultural Foundation. It displayed footwear from ancient Egypt to modern athletic shoes.
The Japan Footwear Museum was the only museum in Japan specializing in footwear. It had a vast collection of approximately 13,000 items. Among these, 2,266 items were designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties. The museum’s collection included sandals from ancient Egypt. It also featured shoes worn by famous athletes.
The museum also recreated a former footwear factory. It displayed a workshop and a plaza with footpaths designed by Taro Okamoto. The Japan Footwear Museum was located near JR West Matsunaga Station.
Sadly, the Japan Footwear Museum closed in 2013. It closed due to declining visitors and the building’s earthquake resistance. In 2015, Fukuyama City received the museum’s collection. On July 4 of the same year, the Fukuyama City Matsunaga Footwear Museum opened. It became the successor facility. This new museum is known as the Ashiato Sukuea. It ensures the legacy of the original Japan Footwear Museum lives on. It continues to preserve and exhibit footwear from around the world.