About "Kutsuya Ikeda" About Kutsuya Ikeda

We sell vintage shoes with the concept of "a special place to find and nurture a valuable pair of shoes." We are a shoe store that offers total care, from shoe polishing to shoe repair.

Mission: Reduce the amount of waste on the planet
Vision: Creating the habit of taking care of things
Value: Regular shoe checkups

By extending the life of shoes through shoe polishing and repair, we hope to help people develop the habit of taking care of things, and by reducing costs and environmental impact, we hope to contribute to reducing waste on Earth.
We sell high-quality vintage leather shoes with the hope of delivering them to as many people as possible and to the next user, shoes that are still wearable.

That said, I haven't always been in the shoe industry, but I started selling shoes as a side job during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led me to start my current business dealing in leather shoes. I myself am still learning every day, so I hope to grow together with my customers.

When I was little, my dream was to become a swordsmith.
He went on to a technical high school and majored in mechanical engineering. He acquired almost all the qualifications available and currently holds over 15. After graduating, he got a job at a leading printing machine manufacturer in Japan, where he worked in the machining center at the Tsukuba factory for two and a half years. After the Lehman Shock, he accepted voluntary retirement from the company and left the company. He returned to his hometown of Fukuoka.

He changed jobs to a small factory in Fukuoka City.
He has been working on machining centers and lathes, performing precision machining that requires accuracy in the micron level (1/1000), for over 10 years, and has been manufacturing key parts for disposable diaper shearing machines, which have the largest market share in the world. He has been working silently, manufacturing products, with the passionate words of a skilled craftsman in his heart: "Manufacturing is what has supported Japan, a country with few resources."

The turning point came with the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.
As major factories closed, subcontractors also lost work and were forced to close, leading to more days off and reduced income.
He studied hard about machining with the goal of increasing work efficiency and improving his technical skills. He actually succeeded in improving efficiency, but his salary did not increase. So he thought about starting a side job and started gathering information.

Then, I came across a YouTube channel selling leather shoes. I watched a video of the process and thought, "This looks interesting." I was amazed at how well the shoes were cared for and repaired, and how beautiful the before and after pictures made them look! It made me want to try it myself. So, I started selling used clothing to raise funds, and after learning about the business of selling goods, I started selling leather shoes.

He grooms, polishes and sells his own shoes.
Although we mainly sell online, we often receive comments from customers after they have made a purchase, such as, "I was impressed by the careful care you provided." Even though I can't see them, I can feel that my careful work and my commitment to making the recipient happy are conveyed, making this a very rewarding job.

We will also start shoe polishing and repair services in the fall of 2024.
The sense of accomplishment when a repair goes well, the joy when the customer is pleased with it, and the idea that my skills can bring more smiles to customers' faces make me want to get better.

Since starting this job, I have had more opportunities to talk to people and I've realized that I like listening to what people have to say. Dealing with leather shoes has made me think about my business, reexamine myself, and even come to like myself. I believe that my encounter with leather shoes has greatly changed my life.

My goal is to help customers discover new shoes to increase their smiles, and to provide shoe polishing and repair services so that they can wear their favorite shoes comfortably for a long time.

When customers smile, the people around them smile too. We want to create a friendly yet uplifting space where people feel like "when you come to this store, you want to do something for your loved ones."

To achieve this, I need to continue honing my skills. But even that is fun. My encounter with leather shoes helped me to love myself, even though I had no idea what I wanted to do in the future and hated myself. Now, my life is becoming more and more enjoyable.

And above all else—
My skills are useful to people and bring smiles to their faces. Those smiles spread to those around me, and more smiles appear. I will continue to grow every day with the philosophy of "making people smile" so that I can become a "source of smiles."