Company Profile. Tanaka Universal Co., Ltd.

Company Profile Tanaka Universal Co., Ltd.

Company Profile Company Name:Tanaka Universal Co., Ltd. Head Office:7F, Kawasaki Building, 6-9, 7-Chome, Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Branch:2F, ARA Building, 6-17, 2-Chome, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Director:Masao Fujikawa Founded :September, 1991 Capital:JPY10,000,000 Account Settlement:August Key Customers:Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, Inc. Iwataya Mitsukoshi Ltd. BEAMS Co., Ltd. Washington Shoe Co., Ltd. Prestige Shoes Co., Ltd. Main Bank:Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation MUFG Bank, Ltd. House-Brand:maccheronian GERMAN TRAINER CEBO TST Business Segments:Planning, Manufacturing, and Sales of Shoes Brands

Corporate History 1942 Founded Tanaka Kame Store / Started as a Footwear Wholesaler 1970 Started Import and Sales of Footwear from South Korea and Taiwan 1980 Started Import and Sales of Footwear from Foreign Designer Brands 1991 The company changed its name to Tanaka Universal Co., Ltd. Design 'PATRICK EWING' / The exclusive Japan Agency 1993 Design 'GRINDERS' / The exclusive Japan Agency Design 'MVP' and ' MVP security' / The exclusive Japan Agency 1994 Discovered 'GERMAN TRAINER', and started to design and sales 1995 Design 'LUDWIG REITER' / The exclusive Japan Agency Consigned shoes design for 'HELMUT LANG' 1998 Launched 'maccheronian' Brand Launched 'TST' Brand Launched 'CEBO' Brand Design 'C.KITZMANTEL' / The exclusive Japan Agency Design 'VULKAN' / The exclusive Japan Agency 2000 Launched 'CEBO-G' Brand 2004 Consigned shoes design for 'walsh' 2005~ Consigned shoes design for a lot of maison brands

We inherited passion as shoe makers from craftsmen who succeeded traditional techniques, and recovered machines, Corporate Philosophy lasts, soles, and cutting knives used in the past that were left at shoemaking factories after various historical backgrounds, and make shoes integrating history, culture essence, modern fashion and modes. We engaged in designing, manufacturing, and selling of various kinds of shoes, such as an established shop Purveyor to the Royal Household in Austria (founded in 1885) and designing & planning with many high-end brands around the world. One of our typical products is 'GERMAN TAINER', German military's training shoes. We successfully inherited the traditional shoe manufacturing process using tools such as lasts, soles and materials which production were discontinued in 1994 and were not used any longer. We are the only company in the world that can commercialize 'GERMAN TRAINER'. For more than a half century since our establishment of business in 1942, we have been enjoying communicating with customers around the world through our shoes. We would like our customers to enjoy wearing our shoes, and continue to contribute to fashion, lifestyles and culture by penetrating craftsmen's hearts. We always respect passions of all the people involved in shoe making. Our pride and responsibility as the only company in the world, make us to continue to develop in our customer as a company providing valuable products and services.

Origin of its name came from its sideline appearance which looks like a macaroni. The factory in Romania used to make rubber shoes and sneakers for Italian military. Our craftsmen succeeded those methods and make them by hand in the most of their process. Such handmade-looking are not able to see in mass productions shoes, and it is one of the biggest charm of it. Also, this factory is famous for making shoes for NATO force in the past. The biggest feature of 'maccheronian' is Vulcanized manufacturing method (pressure bond the sole and shoe upper in a hot oven) using uncured rubber. Uncured rubber were originally used for gym shoes. However, sometimes their soles were melted on asphalt surface. We repeated adjusting composition of uncured rubber in order to make outdoor shoes over and over again, and finally commercialized it. It has a durability against peeling of soles and shoe upper, and functional and flexible feeling is one of the characteristics. Using military shoes as the base, we developed it for a wide range of occasions with canvas, nylon, and leather.

It was supplied as training shoes for German military from 1970th ~ 1994. Since the time their supply finished in 1994 and until today, we use the same last (wooden patterns), cutting knives, outer soles, materials, shoelaces specifications and manufacturing process. Their thick gumsoles have excellent cushioning and durability based on ergonomics in that period and offer feelings of functionality unique as military used items. GERMAN TRAINER Also this factory has a historic background not only manufacturing for German military but also Adidas and Puma brands. In recent years, many high-end brands launch the same types of shoes, and their simple and universal form goes with any kinds of fashion, developed stable popularity and established a strong position. Our marathon model #3183 equipped marathon soles used for marathon races during Olympic Games and light, very elastic EVA midsoles. Excellent grip, rugged and powerful marathon soles have unparalleled presence. #1183 We have classic color selections from mainly white, black, navy to seasonal color variations using various kinds of materials.

A former Czechoslovakian shoes factory with about a century history. In early 1900th, BATTA SHOES, founded by Mr. BATTA, proud of being one of the biggest factories in Europe manufacturing military shoes, etc. However at the time when it was changed to state-run enterprise in 1945, the company also changed its name to CEBO and started to manufacturing rubber sole shoes and rubber products. After 1960th, it started undertaking production from many kinds of sports goods companies. From 1960th to 1970th, CEBO was providing impressive low-tech designed sneakers around the world. Their models launched after 1998 onwards are designed, manufactured, and sold by Tanaka Universal Co., Ltd.

TST is the brand named after our designer, SEISHI TANAKA's initials. This is the mixture of Japanese and English name order, as Tanaka Seishi/Seishi Tanaka. It launched in Europe as the main in 2002, and introduced in Japan since 2005 Spring/Summer. Always based on Classical (traditional techniques and proportions inherited from old times), remix elements of modernism (arrangement of contemporary ideas and material use). This brand uniquely develops in European market, and does reverse import to other market.

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GERMAN TRAINER