Tokyo’s MIKIOSAKABE Goes Full Sci-Fi With New “Bounce” Shoes

Japanese pop culture news edited by Patrick Macias

• Japanese fashion label MIKIOSAKABE has announced new footwear built around its newly developed “Bounce” outsole.

• Pre-orders are open through April 26 on the brand’s official website, with in-person order events in Tokyo on April 10 to 12 and April 25 to 26.

• The new models are scheduled to ship between August and October 2026.

Japanese fashion brand MIKIOSAKABE, known for its playful and often otherworldly approach to footwear design, has introduced a new line of shoes featuring a newly developed outsole called Bounce. The launch includes online pre-orders through April 26, along with special order events at GoOn TOKYO from April 10 to 12 and at SOCIAL TOKYO from April 25 to 26. Deliveries are planned for August through October 2026.

The new Bounce outsole combines a thin TPU structure, a rubber sole designed to support walking, and a distinctive midsole construction that aims to balance visual impact with everyday function. In other words, these are shoes built to stand out while still being wearable.

The collection includes Bounce Confusing, priced at ¥77,000 ($510), which combines the new outsole with MIKIOSAKABE’s signature Confusing shoe design. It will be available in black, red, and turquoise. Also joining the lineup is Bounce Tortoise, priced at ¥71,500 ($475), a new embossed model that will be offered in black and khaki.

MIKIOSAKABE is one of the more recognizable names in Japanese fashion when it comes to sculptural, statement-heavy shoes that blur the line between fashion design and character-like object design. This new release continues that approach, with the Bounce sole serving as both a technical feature and a major part of the look.

MIKIOSAKABE’s new Bounce shoes also arrive with some history behind them. Earlier models like Jewelry and New Jewelry helped make the label a standout in Harajuku thanks to their oversized, sculptural soles and instantly recognizable silhouette. That same design lineage later expanded through grounds and styles like MOOPIE, helping turn Mikio Sakabe’s footwear into one of the more distinctive presences in Tokyo-based street style.

Fans interested in ordering can check the official MIKIOSAKABE site, while Tokyo-area shoppers will also have a chance to see the shoes in person at the upcoming order events.