Vol. 18 "Canvas Sneakers of Youth" MOONSTAR

Canvas sneakers have become an indispensable item for coordinating outfits throughout the year. In this season, it feels wonderful to wear freshly washed and sun-dried sneakers with bare feet, and it’s also nice to use a brand-new pair to dress down a chic ensemble. They are a classic, but their appeal is undeniable. Sneakers are also masters of subtle styling tricks. This time, Editor Demon King’s favorite item is a renowned classic from that brand. The reasons for its meticulous craftsmanship are truly convincing.

Direction by SUKEZANE TomokiPhotographs by YAMAGUCHI KenichiStyling by KAWAI KohtaText by HATAKEYAMA SatokoGrooming by ODAIKYO

MOONSTAR “LOW BASKET”

MOONSTAR “GYM CLASSIC HI”

SukezaneEven if the company name 'Moonstar' doesn't immediately ring a bell, its former name, 'Tsukihoshi (Kasei),' is very familiar to me as a stylist. I must have told taxi drivers thousands of times, pointing to the intersection in Jingu-mae 3-chome that I always pass when going for rentals around Harajuku, 'Please turn at the Tsukihoshi corner!' When I picked out these sneakers for this theme, it was only natural that I recalled that former landmark.

Moonstar, with over 140 years of history in Kurume, Fukuoka—a region that prospered with the development of the rubber industry since the birth of jika-tabi (traditional Japanese split-toe footwear)—produces canvas sneakers that embody an uncompromising approach to craftsmanship. Models like the basic 'LOW BASKET' with its supple feel, and the 'GYM CLASSIC HI,' rooted in 1960s training shoes, are masterpieces that possess a unique style, distinct to MADE IN KURUME, despite their simplicity.

Many of you probably wore these canvas sneakers, marked with the 'Moon' and 'Star' trademark, as school indoor shoes. Regardless of whether you feel like wearing them again as adults, seeing someone wear them evokes a nostalgic feeling. Perhaps canvas sneakers are also items that bring back memories of youth. It makes me want to hum Tulip's famous song, 'Niji to Sneakers no Koro' (Around the Rainbow and Sneakers).

LOW BASKET (White) ¥7900, GYM CLASSIC HI (Black) ¥8900 (Both from Moonstar / Moonstar Customer Center 0800-800-1792)