2024.09.28
Hudson Shoe Store: The spirit of a craftsman who takes on shoes that have been refused for repair at other stores
One day, my cherished leather shoes, which I had worn for many years, broke. After consulting with the shoe store where I bought them and the shoe repair shop at the station, I was told, "It can't be repaired." Buying a new pair would be easy, but I couldn't bring myself to throw away these shoes, as they held countless memories of joy and hardship.
"If possible, I want to repair them and wear them again." If you have such shoes in your possession, head to the Hudson Shoe Store located in a quiet shopping district near Yokohama. The friendly and skilled artisans will be more than happy to discuss your needs.
PROFILE
Rui Murakami
Owner of Hudson Shoe Store. Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 1982. Initially studied materials engineering for making F1 and rocket parts at university, but became captivated by the image of a craftsman making custom shoes on television, leading to enrollment in a shoe-making vocational school in Tokyo. Later apprenticed under Masatoshi Sato at Hudson Shoe Store, honing shoe-making skills. After Sato's sudden passing, he took over the store and launched the shoe repair business.
Inheriting the Handmade Shoe Store Opened by a Legendary Craftsman
What type of store was Hudson Shoe Store originally?
The store was opened by shoemaker Masatoshi Sato in 1961. Sato was said to be the last handmade shoemaker in Yokohama, creating shoes for many famous individuals, including former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and actor Yujiro Ishihara. I was able to apprentice there through an introduction by one of my teachers while I was attending the shoe-making vocational school in Tokyo.By the way, the origin of the store's name, as I heard from a senior, is that the owner of the shoemaking shop where Sato trained was a motorcycle enthusiast, who named it after his favorite New Hudson motorcycle.
Sato was a master craftsman referred to in the phrase "Seki in Tokyo, Sato in Yokohama," correct? What type of person was he?
Old-fashioned shoemakers often have a blunt demeanor, but Sato was gentle and sophisticated. He was demanding regarding his work, of course... In the world of craftsmen, it is said that one should "steal the techniques by watching them," and I learned my skills by watching my master's hands at work.You inherited the shop from your master, correct?
Yes. After Sato passed away in 2011, the store was closed for about a year. When I visited the store to pay my respects, the owner mentioned that she was considering closing the store due to the lack of someone to take over.At the time, I was working in Asakusa, making handmade shoes in a small workshop. However, the business wasn’t going well, and I was contemplating leaving this path.
Encouraged by the owner’s words, "If you want to continue working with shoes, why not try here?" I decided to give it another shot. I became the second-generation owner of Hudson Shoe Store.
Repairs Leveraging Handmade Shoe Techniques Gaining Popularity
Why did you focus on shoe repairs?
In today’s world, fewer people wear leather shoes, and unless you have significant brand power or recognition, it's challenging to make a living solely from shoemaking. Therefore, I started doing repairs as well. It turned out to be more popular than expected... Due to reasons such as complexity and labor, many shoe repair shops and retailers decline repairs for certain shoes.With the capability to create handmade shoes from scratch, I can cater to a wide range of repairs that other shops have declined. Many customers come referred from various shoe specialty stores and department stores, thinking, "Maybe Hudson Shoe Store has them..."
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