Good Shoes Never Die

Since ancient times, the Japanese have believed that a life force resides in all creations.

Valuing and caring for the things we use, a "Zero Waste Life."

Pointing the way to better living for a new era.

A small shoe repair shop on an old shopping street in Yokohama.

The owner's name is Murakami Rui.

These shoes are all in for repairs.

Murakami takes on work other shops refuse.

Shoes so badly damaged, or unusual in ways that make them hard to repair.

For this person, they're irreplaceable.

No matter the shoe, it has meaning.

That's why I take my time.
Every repair is worth doing properly.

Today's repair job is this worn-out pair of leather shoes.

They were purchased 25 years ago from a reputable high-end shoemaker.

Though worn and tattered, they were carefully stored away.

Much loved by their owner, in hopes he could wear them once again, they were brought in for repair by his daughter.

Dad often talked about
what good shoes they were.

They meant a lot to him, and he
wished he could wear them again.

But they were full of holes.

Murakami was the only one for the job.

He'll preserve the memories they hold.

Even though they were full of holes,
he kept them and cared for them.

And if I repair them,
he can keep wearing them.

The first step in the process is disassembly.

This helps determine the best way to proceed with repairs.

To avoid tearing the hard, dry leather it's removed little by little with great care.

The damage is so severe, requiring numerous repairs, that he decides to make a wooden form.

Murakami starts with molds he has on hand that are as close as possible to the correct shape.

5mm too small.

To make up for the difference, he applies a strip of leather.

What follows is hours of scraping and sanding.

With that task complete, the damaged original leather is carefully fit over the finished mold.

To make them wearable while maintaining the original appearance is the customer's request.

What's the reason for the repair?
How will they be worn?

Hear what the customer's saying.

Using my skill and technique,

through me their wishes are expressed
in the shoes I repair for them.

But can these tired old shoes really come back to life?

Murakami began as apprentice to the previous owner, refining his shoe-making technique.

After he took over, he switched focus to shoe repair alone.

A move inspired by customers who deeply valued their shoes.

Their faces are always in my mind.

That's what gives me the motivation
to keep doing this work.

Shoes can be damaged in many ways, so every job presents a new challenge.

For 11 years now, he's continued in his work, one pair at a time.

Father and daughter have come in together to pick up the finished pair of shoes.

Good morning. Thank you.

This is my father.

I came to see for myself.

I'll go get them for you.

Here they are.

Amazing!

Leather shoes restored by Murakami's passion.

The toes that had warn through were replaced with new leather.

The worn-out soles replaced with the same natural rubber.

And the original label smartly placed on the new insoles.

I put them in as proof they were worn.

See, they're really my shoes!

I love these shoes; I wore them often.

This is just incredible.

There's a reason he loved these particular shoes so much.

My daughter bought them for me
when she got her first paycheck.

That's why I couldn't let them go.

They were a present from her.

They look amazing. I'm glad I came here.

From now on, I'll wear them everywhere.

And if they're damaged,
he's always here to fix them.

So, I can run around as much as I like.

Hearing they'll be worn out in the world
again makes me happy.

It's about working with the customer.
Without them, I would just give up.

They say, "This can't be fixed right?"

And I say, "No, with this repair
you'll be able to wear them again."

And they decide not to give up.

They go home feeling that they,
and their shoes, can keep going.

Murakami has recently taken on a new project.

Using the leather from parents' worn-out shoes to make shoes for their children.

No longer worn by adults,
they can become shoes for kids.

It just feels like a natural cycle.
I thought it was a great idea.

A customer has asked him to use shoes they couldn't bear to part with

to make the first pair of shoes for their eight-month-old son.

Using the undamaged and still serviceable sections, he'll produce a tiny pair of shoes.

He's here to deliver the finished shoes.

He just woke up.

Would mom like to open them?

These shoes are for you, Ko.

So cute! They're too cute for words!

They're really my shoes.

I've got goosebumps.

They're so nice. Amazing!

These are little Ko's first shoes.

I hope he'll like wearing them.
I don't think they'll get thrown out.

It's wonderful to have something I wore
remade for my son.

And they look so nice too.

No matter what happens,
we'll never throw them away.

If I can remake trash into something
that makes people feel good,

then it's only natural I should do it.

To me that's the ideal craftsman.