Following the reveal of a city-pop-coded sneaker release with Hiroshi Nagai, Mizuno now unveils another trio of kicks that nod to its Japanese roots. The latest Kizuna pack features a wagashi (Japanese sweets) theme, with each silhouette drawing aesthetic cues from a different variation of the traditional, hand-crafted confection. Often served with a cup of green tea, wagashi are usually made with plant-based ingredients, arriving in the form of simple ball-shaped dumplings to beautiful, delicate neikiri wagashi that emulate scenes from nature.
The “Wagashi” sneaker pack comprises a City Wind Mid, a Wave Rider Beta and a Contender model, all rendered in a dominant pastel hue and punctuated with accents of white and black. Another feature that is consistent among all three sneakers is that the Mizuno logo adorning the lateral sides all feature an “India Ink” black color. Each shoe is inspired by a different type of neikiri wagashi as expressed through its unique blend of colors and motifs on the tongue. At the back of the sneakers are embossed foxings that feature the Kanji characters for wagashi.
Priced at $130 USD, the City Wind Mid boasts a high-top silhouette dressed in “Artic Ice,” a muted-gray blue hue. The Wave Rider Beta has a price point of $180 USD and is highlighted in a “Smoke Green” that resembles matcha, accompanied by accents of beige and mint green. As for the Contender, the sneaker arrives in a “Lavender Frost” lilac colorway and has a price tag of $130 USD.
Releasing on April 19, the “Wagashi” sneakers will be available online and in-store through Mizuno.
