In issue #02 of the free magazine ‘NOT FAR,’ produced by TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance, Yusuke Koishi contributes an insightful piece titled “Economy and History From Sneakers.”

Yusuke Koishi delves into the phenomenon unique to sneakers among various fashion items—the resale market, where consumers can buy and sell their purchased sneakers. In today’s market, sneakers are traded like stocks, with popular items fetching prices many times higher than their original retail value. Yusuke examines the reasons behind the unique phenomenon of sneakers amidst a myriad of fashion items. Particularly, he addresses the distinctive nature of sneakers as a “mass media that becomes intertwined with the narrative of human life.”

Produced by TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance

Text by Yusuke Koishi

Illustration by Summer House

Edit by Takashi Ogami

Translation by Emily Balistrierl