{
  "id": 9274239,
  "title": "Converse Japan and one of Japan’s greatest painters combine for fine fowl shoes [Photos]",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/converse-japan-and-one-of-japans-greatest-painters-combine-for-fine",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-23T05:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SoraNews24",
    "slug": "soranews24",
    "url": "https://soranews24.com/2026/09/23/converse-japan-and-one-of-japans-greatest-painters-combine-for-fine-fowl-shoes-photos/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Converse Japan has collaborated with Ito Jakuchu, one of the most celebrated painters of the Edo period, to create a new sneaker model named the All Star IJ HI. The name itself is a nod to Ito, as \"IJ\" are initials referring to his name. Ito Jakuchu, born in 1712, was originally a grocer before pursuing his passion for painting. His specialty lay in painting birds, particularly chickens and roosters, which he depicted in multiple works with the title \"gunkeizu,\" or \"painting of chickens/roosters.\" One of his notable pieces, the Saboten Gunkeizu, was painted in 1789 on the sliding doors of Osaka's Saifukuji Temple.\n\nConverse Japan has adopted imagery from this particular painting for the top of the All Star IJ HI sneakers' canvas. Despite being founded in the U.S. and becoming a subsidiary of Nike in 2003, Converse Japan operates as a separate entity, being part of Japan's Itochu trading company conglomerate. Ito Jakuchu lived during Japan's Edo period, a time when the country was isolated from the rest of the world due to the Tokugawa Shogunate's decree. Consequently, he would have had limited exposure to footwear beyond traditional geta and zori sandals.\n\nNonetheless, Ito's painting provides a stylish and bold motif for the sneakers, striking a balance between vivid imagery and an elegant design. The All Star IJ HI model is priced at 14,300 yen (US$90) and is exclusively available through Japanese retail store ABC Mart, with orders placed through the chain's online store.",
  "summary": "An all-star of the Edo period art world graces a new canvas. The defining detail of Converse’s All Stars series of sneakers is that the shoes are made with canvas. Of course, linguistically, “canvas” can refer not only to sturdy woven fabric, but also a space in which an artist can create, and both of […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}