Despite the devastating economic and environmental condition of Japan today, Japan-based New Balance was still able to manage the evolution of another great summer collection which earned the name New Balance Outdoor Rainbow Pack – Japan. This selection of multi-colored footwear features the M01320 trail walker, the SM920 aqua runner, and the SM525 beach sandal.

The M01320 and SM920 have something in common when it comes to the material used on the upper. New Balance applied GORE-TEX material for that water-proof attribute while both of the sneakers wear rainbow colors with gradient effect plus colorful pattern on the inner lining. The lace holder system used is somewhat edgy due to its functionality. NB implemented the Vibram sole unit which provides a unique midsole that reveals tentacle-like design. ABZORB technology has been used for better cushioning.

The SM525 on the other hand is designed in typical sandal type with C-CAP cushioning and is also available in a plethora of vibrant color combos.

Purchase your own pair of New Balance Outdoor Rainbow Pack – Japan right now!

Not everyone is well-versed with the Japanese art and culture so before we proceed to the main course which is the Nike Slam Dunk Air Zoom Brave IV – Manga, let us pause for a bit and understand what really a manga is.

In Japan history, manga is a strip that consists comics and print cartoons, and was developed in the late 19^th century. In its modern form, manga date from shortly after World War II, but it has a long, complex pre-history in earlier Japanese art. The sports-themed manga series entitled “Slam Dunk” written by Takehiko Inoue is about a basketball team from Shōhoku High School. Later on it has been adapted into an anime series by Toei Animation which had been broadcast worldwide, enjoying much popularity particularly in Japan, several other Asian countries and Europe.

Today, Inoue’s manga has taken a spot in the sneaker world allowing Nike to create the latest Air Zoom Brave IV with a very strong influence from the Slam Dunk manga. Blue and white in nature, this shoe wears flywire-fused panel on its premium upper. The white toe box has images associated with the manga inspiration, and a few Japanese characters at the back of the tongue. There’s also no scape for the insole so it receives the same manga-inspired drawings.

Purchase your own pair of Nike Slam Dunk Air Zoom Brave IV – Manga right now!

Hideo Nomo’s achievement in Major League Baseball made a great impact not only in this field of sport but even to sneaker industry. His excellent pitching skills inspired Nike in creating a model that is named after him, the Nike Air Max NM (Nomo). This running-based silhouette is powered by Nomo’s hyperactive spirit in the baseball diamond and today, we have spotted the latest colorway which is also the most anticipated tone by sneakerheads.

Take it or leave it but you will always chase it, this Nike Air Max NM sports a unique assembly by having pro blue nubuck upper matched with black mesh inserts. It features white accent that is visible on the Swoosh, baseball on the tongue, wavy Max Air unit-fused midsole, and shoe laces. This perhaps reminds you of Hideo Nomo wearing his Dodgers jersey uniform with his pair of Nikes on.

For sure there are still limited retailers that display pairs of Nomo’s Nike Air Max which leads you to ExtraButter, New York for a visit.

Purchase your own pair of Nike Air Max NM – Pro Blue right now!

Japan is about to join Berlin and London as one of the areas of the world that has had an Adidas Consortium AdiCup made in their honor. Adidas Consortium has just reached out to web magazine Houyhnhnm as well as the musical collective Masterpiece Sounds to lend them a hand in this project too. If you have been following the way these packs work at all in the past then you should know already how things will work here. They will not only feature the shoes, but also a team-colored votary and a matching kit bad and soccer jersey.

This one might just be our favorite version from the Adidas Consortium AdiCup series thus far. The shoe is looking really nice with an excellent colorway the looks very nice for the model of the shoe. Also all of the extras here look very nice as well and match the shoes excellently.

Purchase your own pair of Adidas Consortium x Houyhnhnm x Masterpiece Japan AdiCup Pack right now!

A preview of the latest from Converse Japan. Though having basic design and styles, this collection features very interesting colorways. The most exciting in this pack are the All-Star Turndown models which features an ankle flap.

Purchase your own pair of Converse Japan June 2009 Release right now!

Converse is set to release it’s One Star Ox to put some competition against the Nike Air Elan Pinnacle. They come in 3 colorways, tan, black and white, however there are two pairs of white ones, one with laces and the other with the 3 straps. All of them feature a depressed star on the side.

Purchase your own pair of Converse One Star Ox Japan Limited Edition right now!

KIKS TYO, the smooth Japanese cats who convinced Aki Hoshino(can’t get enough of her) to be their mascot, has brought us something different: Pandas. Pandas, lion dance, Yao Ming’s head… all of these represent China well. So they put these things on a t-shirt, threw in some China Nike kicks and you got a sick design for an Olympic Tee. It’s limited to 100 pieces and is available only at select boutiques around the world. The closest boutique to the States is in Toronto’s Capsule.

MESS – BEIJING http://www.messbeijing.com
REACTION – GUANGZHOU http://www.reactioninc.com
ATTITUDE – HONG KONG
LIMITED EDT – SINGAPORE http://www.limitededt.com
ESPIONAGE – SYDNEY http://www.sneakers4life.com
GORILLI CONCEPT STORE – ROTTERDAM http://www.conceptstore.gorilli.com
CAPSULE – TORONTO http://www.c-apsule.com

Purchase your own pair of Got Pandas?… KIKS TYO Beijing Olympics T-Shirt right now!

KIKS-TYO and Espionage are dropping a t-shirt featuring Yuko Ishida, a very cute Japanese girl wearing some Nike Air Max 90 Infrareds. The t-shirt is limited to 200 individually numbered pieces and will only be available at Espionage‘s Nike Air Max 90 Infrared Release Party, which is down under in Australia. See the details after the break!

Purchase your own pair of KIKS TYO x Yuko Ishida x Espionage T-Shirt right now!

We showed you the Nike Air Max 1 Tanabata (Night of Sevens) before. Now they’re available for purchase at kix-files. The theme of this sneaker is the Japanese Festival of Tanabata as well as the Chinese festival of Qi Xi, both literally mean The Night of Sevens. This theme is shown in the stars on the sneaker as well as the Chinese script/Kanji in the insole. $165.

Purchase your own pair of Nike Air Max 1 Premium Tanabata right now!

Tanabata (which literally means The Evening of the Seventh) is a Japanese festival of the stars, from the Chinese festival of Qi Xi. According to mythology ‘starcrossed’ lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, are separated by the Milky Way and only allowed to meet once yearly, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Think of it as an East Asian Valentine’s Day. Such is Tanabata, shown on this sick pair of Nike Air Max 1 Tanabata.

Purchase your own pair of Nike Air Max 1 Tanabata right now!