Our Proud New Designs

This year, we’re introducing two new designs to the MERI series: "Shiranami" and "Aranami".
As their names suggest, these styles are inspired by waves - and more specifically, by the iconic works of Katsushika Hokusai.
The soles feature vividly colored yarns, while the straps (hanao) showcase bold, dynamic wave patterns.
Unlike many of our recent collections, these designs are full of energy and presence. Their striking colors combined with powerful wave motifs make them truly eye-catching.

Our shop, MERIKOTI, is located along Hokusai Street in Sumida, Tokyo—between Ryogoku and Kinshicho. The birthplace of Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, is just around the corner. In 2016, the Sumida Hokusai Museum opened near our shop, and ever since, we’ve drawn inspiration from Hokusai’s work -designing hanao printed with his manga sketches and creating color palettes based on his ukiyo-e art.

The museum itself was designed by renowned architect Kazuyo Sejima, attracting not only art lovers but also architecture enthusiasts. Incidentally, the Tokyo headquarters of Yoshida Printing near Kinshicho is another building she designed. For those interested in architecture, Hokusai Street offers a unique and inspiring walk.

One of Hokusai’s most iconic works is “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”
We've been deeply inspired by this piece and have crafted many MERI slippers using its sky, wave, and Mt. Fuji color palette.

However, for this new release, we have chosen not to focus on the wave’s colors but rather on its overwhelming energy. We wanted to capture the power of the wave itself and made it the centerpiece of the hanao pattern.
While we had been considering navy or black for the soles, we ultimately selected bright yellow and red to complement the wave’s movement and intensity.

In Japanese, there’s a word “粋 Iki”, which means a refined, stylish sense of cool.
We believe these new designs embody that spirit perfectly.

Even before the official release, we received requests from customers who pointed to the samples and said, “I want that one!” - a moment that truly made us smile.

You can find these new designs at MERIKOTI or through our online store.
We hope you’ll experience a touch of Iki - Japanese elegance and style - through our latest creations.