Designed by Mazda, these new driving shoes embrace the Jinba-Ittai philosophy

Just yesterday, Mazda announced a new partnership with Japanese sport equipment maker Mizuno. The product of this partnership is aptly called the Mazda / Mizuno Driving Shoes.

Mazda is keen to point out that the its designers who are more familiar with designing cars, took up the challenge to design this pair of shoes. 

Orders for the new shoes were opened yesterday. Seeing that each pair of these Mazda / Mizuno Driving Shoes are hand-crafted, production is limited to 1,000 pairs. 

According to Mazda and Mizuno, the new driving shoes are designed to provide the driver with a new concept of “communication with the car”, pretty much mirroring Mazda’s “Jinba-Ittai” philosophy. 

The shoes have special stretched parts that aids dorsiflexion (the backward movement of the foot), allowing for a more precise throttle control. It also has a unique uneven surface called Mizuno Cob that is said to give a more accurate feedback, allowing drives to feel the pedals better. 

As with any driving shoes worth its salt, this Mazda / Mizuno Driving Shoes also feature a rounded sole that enables smoother pedal operation.

If you’re keen, be prepared to fork out JPY 39,800 (~RM 1,500) for a pair. Deliveries will commence after March 2022. Those interested can play their order at Makuake - a Japanese crowdfunding website.