The Secret of Your Nice Footwork

Established in 1952 in Kobe, Japan, Koyo Bear created the first purpose-built table tennis shoe—the Sharpman—developed with 12-time World Champion Ichiro Ogimura. Today, Koyo Bear is known for handmade, vulcanized footwear, produced in small batches using traditional Japanese manufacturing methods.

コーヨーベアーは1952年、神戸にて創業しました。以来、日本の高度な技術とクラフツマンシップによって生み出されたスポーツウェアを作り続けています。すべてのアイテムには、その伝統と原点への敬意が、慎ましくも確かな品質とともに受け継がれています。

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Side and sole view of the handmade Koyo Bear Sharpman White Trim canvas sneakers, made in Japan in white canvas with white piping and white vulcanised outsole, showing the classic low-profile design of the world’s first purpose-built table tennis shoe.

SHARPMAN

THE SHOE OF CHAMPIONS

Table tennis player in action wearing Koyo Bear Sharpman Nimble shoes, the purpose-built table tennis sneakers designed for agile footwork and fast directional changes.
Vintage Japanese advertisement for the Koyo Bear Sharpman Nimble table tennis shoes, showing the red and green trim versions of the world’s first purpose-built table tennis sneaker.
Side view of the Koyo Bear Sharpman Nimble red sneakers in white canvas with green stripes and green vulcanised sole, highlighting the low-profile design and lightweight silhouette.

NIMBLE

SHARPMAN NIMBLE

Cover of the May 1972 Japanese Table Tennis Report featuring two-time world champion Yasuko Konno wearing Koyo Bear Sharpman table tennis shoes, the first purpose-built handmade table tennis sneakers made in Japan.

Ichiro Ogimura

Japanese table tennis legend, Ping Pong Diplomat, and creator of one of Koyo Bear’s classics, the Sharpman.

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Portrait of Ichiro Ogimura, the legendary Japanese table tennis champion and innovator who helped shape modern table tennis.