World-Renowned Shoe Craftsman 'Hitoshi Mimura' Visits Gapyeong County

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Hitoshi Mimura, known worldwide as a master shoe craftsman, visited Gapyeong County Office on the 10th for an informal discussion with County Governor Seo Tae-won.

The meeting was arranged for in-depth discussions on the vitalization of 'Gapyeong Jara Island National Marathon,' a signature event of Gapyeong County, and the fostering of local student track and field programs.

Known as the "God of Shoes," Hitoshi Mimura is renowned for creating custom-made handcrafted shoes that maximize athletic performance by meticulously analyzing each athlete's foot shape, muscle composition, and injury history, based on the philosophy that "every foot is different."

He has practiced a philosophy that views shoes not merely as products for famous athletes but as "partners" that unlock an athlete's potential.

Thanks to this philosophy and technical expertise, Hitoshi Mimura has earned the trust of numerous athletes including Japan's marathon hero Hiromi Taniguchi, Korea's Hwang Young-jo and Lee Bong-ju, and world-class distance runners from Kenya and Ethiopia. Athletes wearing his shoes have gone on to win gold medals at the Olympics and world championships.

This has led to the saying, "Behind every medal is a shoe made by Hitoshi Mimura."

County Governor Seo Tae-won said, "It is meaningful to discuss the development of sports in Gapyeong County with world-renowned shoe craftsman Hitoshi Mimura," and added, "We will continue to actively support Gapyeong student athletes so they can excel on the world stage."