"Shoe Shiner Chronicles" Part 22: Mr. Katsuhisa Manome (THE FACTORY by Brift H)

Introducing "Shoe Shiner's Chronicles," a series that explores the world of professional shoe shiners. There are so many wonderful shoe shiners out there! This 22nd installment features Katsuhisa Manome, a veteran craftsman who excels at shoe repair at THE FACTORY by Brift H in Oiso. From being a manager at a certain shoe shining shop to joining Brift H, read on to discover his thoughts and approach to shoes.

We interviewed Mr. Manome, who is in charge of repairs at Brift H, about his career so far, the appeal of shoe repair, and what he wants to achieve at Brift H. Mr. Manome's first exposure to shoe repair work was in his late 20s, when he saw a job advertisement and started out of curiosity.

"I've had various jobs, but I just found a job opening and started doing it out of curiosity. Then, I realized it actually suited me quite well."

Once he started, he found the process of shoes becoming clean through repair to be fascinating. Heels were tidied, soles became clean. Watching these changes, he felt that this job might be right for him.

His first workplace was an old-fashioned repair shop in Ikebukuro. The master craftsman was his age, and they got along well, so it was enjoyable. However, at that time, he only worked there briefly as a part-timer and then left the shoe world for a while to pursue other work. Still, shoe repair work remained in the back of his mind. While working other jobs, he felt that "I won't be able to make a living like this in the future," and decided to re-enter the shoe industry.

"When I was doing other work, I thought, 'This isn't good for me.' I thought I wouldn't be able to make a living in the future, so I decided to make a living with shoes for the rest of my life."

That's how he returned to the world of shoe shining. Since Mr. Manome already had experience in shoe repair, he became involved in setting up a repair department alongside his shoe shining work. However, the shop at that time was quite different from the local repair shops he had known before.

"It was the first time for me to see a craftsman sitting and shining a customer's shoes right there, so I wondered if I could do it. But I thought it would be more interesting than working at a regular local repair shop."

Initially, he was given shoe shining tools and started by trying it out himself. He polished practice shoes, worked on shoes left for repair, and eventually was entrusted with customers' shoes at the store. When setting up the repair department, as it was a new store, customers were slow to come at first, but gradually word spread, and both repair and shining became busy.

The appeal of shoe repair, as Mr. Manome sees it, is very simple.

"The shoes respond to what I do. That's what's so appealing about it."

One of the charms is that shoes are not as distant as cars; they are something much more familiar. It's an industry that one can enter without prior experience, but the more you do it, the deeper it becomes. The fact that he found the process of shoes becoming clean interesting and suited to him is one of the reasons he has been able to continue for so long.

On the other hand, he also says it's not an easy job.

"If it doesn't suit you, I don't think you can do it in this industry. I think you need perseverance, or rather, you won't last unless you genuinely like it."

While a passion for shoes is certainly important, it's not enough to sustain you. There are aptitudes and inaptitudes, and the ability to persevere steadily is also necessary. So, what does he prioritize when making repairs? On this point, Mr. Manome says it's about returning the shoes to their original state as naturally as possible.

"I always strive to finish them as beautifully as possible, so that they return to their original state without any sense of incongruity."

Here, "original state" refers not just to the appearance but to the overall character of the shoe, including its comfort when worn. However, recently, he sometimes receives requests for custom work from customers. In such cases, he makes sure to clearly explain the potential downsides, such as changes in wearing comfort or the shoe becoming heavier, and then, if the customer still wishes, he tries to accommodate their request.

"I try to have a flexible mindset, not an overly rigid one."

While aiming to restore shoes to their original state, he also responds to customer requests. Striking that balance is also part of the repair job.

When asked about memorable shoes, he mentioned a pair of Edward Green shoes he encountered not in repair but in shoe shining. A customer who wasn't originally much of a shoe enthusiast developed a love for shoes through their experience at the shop and brought in a custom-ordered pair.

"I was so impressed by their sense of style that I still remember it. Those Edward Green shoes, custom-ordered with an emerald green lining, were truly cool and made a big impact on me."

It seems it was a pair that left an impression not only because of the quality of the shoes themselves but also because of the owner's sensibility. Mr. Manome also frankly spoke about the difficulties of repair. Shoe shining has clear before-and-after results, and customer reactions are often straightforward. On the other hand, even after spending a long time on repairs, the common response is simply "Thank you."

"There are times when you work hard but aren't rewarded. But I also think that's just how repair work is."

The reason he still wants to continue is because he loves shoe work itself. When asked about his future dreams and goals, he said that rather than wanting to become independent and open his own shop, his biggest goal is to continue this work for a long time.

"I'm already getting on in years, so my goal, or rather, my hope, might be to be able to continue this work indefinitely."

Repairing shoes and making a living by continuing work related to shoes. To achieve this, he is conscious of his health, exercising and avoiding excessive eating and drinking. His words convey a desire to remain active throughout his life. Currently, Mr. Manome has only been at Brift H for about half a year. In this new environment, he plans to take on more interesting challenges.

"I saw an article saying that I could do repairs at Hasegawa-san's place, and I was so desperate that I sent an email without even thinking twice."

The reason he came to Brift H is also clear. He felt there was meaning in doing repairs here.

"I always think I want to challenge myself with various interesting things. If I don't, there's no point in joining Brift H."

Listening to Mr. Manome, it's clear that shoe repair is not just about fixing broken parts. It's about restoring shoes to their original state, meeting customer expectations, and continuing to do so for a long time. In each of these aspects, Mr. Manome's earnestness shines through.

The one comment he made at the very end, as if suddenly remembering it, was particularly striking.

"I just said I didn't have many goals, but I do have a dream: I'd like to live in London someday and do shoe repair."

The 52-year-old veteran spoke of his dream with a slight shy smile at the end, and in that moment, his eyes sparkled like a young boy's. We eagerly anticipate what kind of repairs he will show us at Brift H. We look forward to his future endeavors.