On the right is CEO Yoshirō Satō, and on the left is Makoto Nagasaki, who handles marketing and branding.
We visited Yoshirō Satō and Makoto Nagasaki from Sportiva Japan, the exclusive distributor of La Sportiva in Japan, to learn about the brand’s history and product development.
Nagasaki explained that La Sportiva is a footwear brand founded in Val di Fiemme, at the foot of the Dolomites. The company specializes in three categories: mountaineering, climbing, and mountain running (trail running) shoes.
Satō: Fiemme is a mountain town about 300 km east of Milan. It belongs to the German-speaking region of northern Italy, so its atmosphere is quite different from the Mediterranean image of the south.
Nagasaki: "Val" means valley, so the name translates directly to "Fiemme Valley." It's a town nestled at the bottom of a valley, surrounded by mountains on both sides.
— In Japan, La Sportiva is often seen as a brand for professional mountaineering boots. How is it perceived in Italy?
Satō: Just like in Japan, it is recognized as a brand for professional mountaineering boots. Not only in Italy but across Europe, La Sportiva is known for producing high-level footwear.
Nagasaki: La Sportiva combines both automated processes and skilled craftsmanship in its shoe production. For example, tasks like edge finishing and sole bonding are done by hand.
Satō: The company remains a traditional family-run business, though it has been gradually expanding. It now has nearly 500 employees in Italy. Fiemme is a small town, often referred to as "the town of La Sportiva," where many employees have known each other since childhood, with some families working for the company across three generations.
Recently, more employees have been hired from outside the local area, including through headhunting. Last year, a female manager was appointed to oversee CSR, and today, women outnumber men in the workforce.
— La Sportiva Japan's parent company, Nihon Yohin Co., Ltd., began selling La Sportiva products in Japan in 1969. How did that come about?
Satō: I wasn’t born at the time, so this is based on stories from my father and grandfather. It all started when they saw La Sportiva’s products at an outdoor trade fair in Cologne.
Back then, our company operated Nippin, a specialty outdoor store in Akihabara, and frequently attended international trade fairs for sourcing. They were immediately drawn to La Sportiva’s innovative design, which stood out from conventional mountaineering boots. The brand also had cutting-edge sole-to-upper bonding technology at the time.
— La Sportiva and Nihon Yohin have maintained their partnership for over 50 years. Why do you think it has lasted so long?
Satō: Japan is one of the longest-standing distributors of La Sportiva worldwide. I believe there are two key reasons for this.
First, the values of both companies align well. Second, personal relationships have played a major role. La Sportiva’s current CEO and my father, the former head of Nihon Yohin, are the same age. Interestingly, the CEO’s daughter and I are also the same age, while his son is the same age as my sister. Our families have had close ties for generations.
In recent years, we’ve also encouraged our employees to participate in meetings in Italy. We want them to build direct connections with the brand, just as our family has.
Sportiva Japan Nihon Yōhin Co., Ltd. was founded in 1951. They opened an outdoor equipment specialty store called "Nippin" in Akihabara, Tokyo, and in 1969, a partnership with Sportiva began. In 2013, Sportiva Japan was established as an affiliated company, and it has now merged with Nihon Yōhin again to make a fresh start.
We visited Yoshirō Satō and Makoto Nagasaki from Sportiva Japan, the exclusive distributor of La Sportiva in Japan, to learn about the brand’s history and product development.
Nagasaki explained that La Sportiva is a footwear brand founded in Val di Fiemme, at the foot of the Dolomites. The company specializes in three categories: mountaineering, climbing, and mountain running (trail running) shoes.
Satō: Fiemme is a mountain town about 300 km east of Milan. It belongs to the German-speaking region of northern Italy, so its atmosphere is quite different from the Mediterranean image of the south.
Nagasaki: "Val" means valley, so the name translates directly to "Fiemme Valley." It's a town nestled at the bottom of a valley, surrounded by mountains on both sides.
— In Japan, La Sportiva is often seen as a brand for professional mountaineering boots. How is it perceived in Italy?
Satō: Just like in Japan, it is recognized as a brand for professional mountaineering boots. Not only in Italy but across Europe, La Sportiva is known for producing high-level footwear.
Nagasaki: La Sportiva combines both automated processes and skilled craftsmanship in its shoe production. For example, tasks like edge finishing and sole bonding are done by hand.
Satō: The company remains a traditional family-run business, though it has been gradually expanding. It now has nearly 500 employees in Italy. Fiemme is a small town, often referred to as "the town of La Sportiva," where many employees have known each other since childhood, with some families working for the company across three generations.
Recently, more employees have been hired from outside the local area, including through headhunting. Last year, a female manager was appointed to oversee CSR, and today, women outnumber men in the workforce.
— La Sportiva Japan's parent company, Nihon Yohin Co., Ltd., began selling La Sportiva products in Japan in 1969. How did that come about?
Satō: I wasn’t born at the time, so this is based on stories from my father and grandfather. It all started when they saw La Sportiva’s products at an outdoor trade fair in Cologne.
Back then, our company operated Nippin, a specialty outdoor store in Akihabara, and frequently attended international trade fairs for sourcing. They were immediately drawn to La Sportiva’s innovative design, which stood out from conventional mountaineering boots. The brand also had cutting-edge sole-to-upper bonding technology at the time.
— La Sportiva and Nihon Yohin have maintained their partnership for over 50 years. Why do you think it has lasted so long?
Satō: Japan is one of the longest-standing distributors of La Sportiva worldwide. I believe there are two key reasons for this.
First, the values of both companies align well. Second, personal relationships have played a major role. La Sportiva’s current CEO and my father, the former head of Nihon Yohin, are the same age. Interestingly, the CEO’s daughter and I are also the same age, while his son is the same age as my sister. Our families have had close ties for generations.
In recent years, we’ve also encouraged our employees to participate in meetings in Italy. We want them to build direct connections with the brand, just as our family has.
Sportiva Japan Nihon Yōhin Co., Ltd. was founded in 1951. They opened an outdoor equipment specialty store called "Nippin" in Akihabara, Tokyo, and in 1969, a partnership with Sportiva began. In 2013, Sportiva Japan was established as an affiliated company, and it has now merged with Nihon Yōhin again to make a fresh start.
Sportiva, a popular shoe brand among climbers worldwide, recently introduced its latest mountaineering boots and climbing shoes, which supported Japanese athletes at the Paris Olympics.
Nagasaki: La Sportiva's mountaineering boots are split into two categories: the "Equilibrium" series for walking and the "Trango" series for climbing. The "Trango PRO GTX" is designed for tough climbs while being comfortable for walking, thanks to its Vibram sole and "Spring Lug Tech" technology, which offers lightweight stiffness and cushioning.
Sato: The "Trango PRO GTX" is a perfect example of La Sportiva's innovative models each season.
Nagasaki: The "Mandala" climbing shoe, worn by Akiyo Noguchi at the Paris Olympics, features a "no-edge" sole for a barefoot-like feel. Noguchi switched to these shoes just before the Olympics, finishing fourth overall.
Sato: Athletes, like Haruto Anraku, also prefer La Sportiva shoes. Anraku switched from red to yellow "Skwama" shoes before the World Cup, showing how personal preferences influence shoe choices.
Sportiva Japan, founded in 1951, began its partnership with Sportiva in 1969. In 2013, Sportiva Japan was established and later merged with Nihon Yōhin for a fresh start.
Nagasaki: La Sportiva's mountaineering boots are split into two categories: the "Equilibrium" series for walking and the "Trango" series for climbing. The "Trango PRO GTX" is designed for tough climbs while being comfortable for walking, thanks to its Vibram sole and "Spring Lug Tech" technology, which offers lightweight stiffness and cushioning.
Sato: The "Trango PRO GTX" is a perfect example of La Sportiva's innovative models each season.
Nagasaki: The "Mandala" climbing shoe, worn by Akiyo Noguchi at the Paris Olympics, features a "no-edge" sole for a barefoot-like feel. Noguchi switched to these shoes just before the Olympics, finishing fourth overall.
Sato: Athletes, like Haruto Anraku, also prefer La Sportiva shoes. Anraku switched from red to yellow "Skwama" shoes before the World Cup, showing how personal preferences influence shoe choices.
Sportiva Japan, founded in 1951, began its partnership with Sportiva in 1969. In 2013, Sportiva Japan was established and later merged with Nihon Yōhin for a fresh start.
Many of Sportiva's shoes feature Vibram soles, a trusted choice for climbers facing life-threatening risks. For both Sportiva and its users, Vibram is a "symbol of trust."
Nagasaki: "Trust" is the key. Climbers rely on shoes as life-saving gear, so only the best materials, like Vibram, are used. Vibram's long history and quality make it the go-to choice for many brands, including La Sportiva.
Sato: I visited Vibram's factory in Italy in 2022, and it was clear that their commitment to quality is exceptional. The close relationship between La Sportiva and Vibram feels almost like one entity.
Sato: Vibram is well-regarded even by general users, who often ask about the sole compounds for their outdoor activities.
Nagasaki: The yellow Vibram mark is a recognized "sign of trust" and remains the most famous sole worldwide.
Sato: Looking ahead, we aim to make La Sportiva Japan the leader in the outdoor shoe market, focusing on sustainable growth. We look forward to celebrating La Sportiva's 100th anniversary in 2028 and our own in 2051.
Sportiva Japan, part of Nihon Yōhin Co., Ltd. (founded in 1951), began its partnership with Sportiva in 1969. It was officially established in 2013 and later merged with Nihon Yōhin for a fresh start.
Nagasaki: "Trust" is the key. Climbers rely on shoes as life-saving gear, so only the best materials, like Vibram, are used. Vibram's long history and quality make it the go-to choice for many brands, including La Sportiva.
Sato: I visited Vibram's factory in Italy in 2022, and it was clear that their commitment to quality is exceptional. The close relationship between La Sportiva and Vibram feels almost like one entity.
Sato: Vibram is well-regarded even by general users, who often ask about the sole compounds for their outdoor activities.
Nagasaki: The yellow Vibram mark is a recognized "sign of trust" and remains the most famous sole worldwide.
Sato: Looking ahead, we aim to make La Sportiva Japan the leader in the outdoor shoe market, focusing on sustainable growth. We look forward to celebrating La Sportiva's 100th anniversary in 2028 and our own in 2051.
Sportiva Japan, part of Nihon Yōhin Co., Ltd. (founded in 1951), began its partnership with Sportiva in 1969. It was officially established in 2013 and later merged with Nihon Yōhin for a fresh start.
