Nike Nods to Shibuya With Three Special Air Force 1s

The Shibuya ward of Tokyo has always claimed a lofty seat in the pantheon of sneaker culture, so Nike is now paying homage to the area’s influence with a three-pack of special Air Force 1s. After an initial “Halloween” pair was recently teased by atmos founder Hirofumi “Koji” Kojima, two more bold makeups — a white/green/red and a black/purple/red — have arrived to accompany it. Although each pair interprets Shibuya in a different way, the influence the fabled neighborhood has had on the world of sneakers is palpable in each.

The black/orange makeup features an eye-catching mix of materials on its upper, combining an orange pebbled leather mudguard and eyestays, and a black patent leather heel collar with tinted translucent plastic on its quarter and toebox. This Halloween-themed look is entirely intentional: every year, Shibuya plays host to a costume party that can draw over a million people. The orange hues nod to both the festivities themselves — and the day after, when thousands of volunteers with bright orange bags canvass the streets, picking up the trash that was left behind.

Meanwhile, the black/purple/red and white/green/red pairs opt for a timeless AF1 combo of crisp leather uppers with colorful accents. Although the hues are different, the inspiration is the same: the colored details on each shoe nod to one of the eight different train lines that run into and out of the Shibuya Station, one of the busiest railway depots in the world. Both also offer a white midsole, and the former is completed with a brown outsole, while the latter opts for oceanic teal.

Apart from city-centric stylings, the common thread connecting all three makeups is an embroidered skyline graphic on the lateral heel, with an overlaid “SBY” text hit and embroidered Swoosh. In a way, each pair harkens back to the days of limited, region/city- exclusive Air Force 1 releases, speaking loudly and proudly of its hometown.

All three will release exclusively on Nike SNKRS in Japan. The “Halloween” will arrive on October 30, and retail is set at ¥15,400 JPY (approx. $142 USD), while the two-pack of “Subway” styles arrive two days later on November 1 and are priced at ¥12,100 (approx. $111 USD).

In other Nike news, it’s been rumored that the beloved Dunk Low “Viotech” will return this December.