Did you know that beach sandals (also known as flip flops or thongs) worn all over the world today were born in Nagata, Kobe, and raised in Hawaii?

This is because in 1951, just after the end of World War II, the technology to make rubber foam (to trap independent air bubbles) was invented in Nagata, Kobe.
This incredible fact has inspired us to continue this “Japan made” story.

Traditional Japanese footwear culture, such as straw shoes (Waraji) and sandals (Zouri), gave rise to the unique Japanese walking culture of “walking with the toes.”
It is said to promote improved blood flow from the feet to the rest of the body, and corrective exercises to support the body with one’s foot strength leads to strength and neuromuscular training.
Furthermore, stimulation of the proprioceptive senses of the foot sole can lead to greater activation of the brain.

It is precisely because we are now in the current era, 70 years since the birth of beach sandals and with people beginning to seek true health, that we have released our Waraji Sandals with the desire to contribute to the health of people all over the world, from the feet up to the entire body.

hakimono = footwear
shikimono = something to lay on the ground
tsukurimono = something made

buntA is a wonderful, independent, “made in Japan” foam rubber (AIR rubber) brand born in Nagata, Kobe, that develops sustainable, timeless, and wellness-promoting products.
We aim to expand the possibilities of AIR rubber through collaborations with various companies and creators, and to continue spreading the excellence of “Japan made” from Japan to the world.

CEO / Producer Buntaro Higashida