Company Profile

• Name

  Marugo Company Inc.

• Representative

  Masahiko, Fukuda

• Sites

  • Head Office&Factory

    1680-1, Chayamachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Pref. 710-1101
    TEL.086-428-0230 FAX.086-428-7551

  • Tokyo Office

    2F, 1-17-1, Kyobashi, Chuou-ku, Tokyo 104-0031
    TEL.03-3566-6105 FAX.03-3566-6108

• Shops

  • MARUGO TOKYO

    1F, 1-17-1, Kyobashi, Chuou-ku, Tokyo 104-0031
    TEL.03-3566-6107

  • MARUGO KURASHIKI

    1-4-13, Chuou, Kurashiki, Okayama Pref. 710-0046
    TEL.086-489-6948

  • KOYAYA

    1680-1, Chayamachi, Kurashiki, Okayama Pref. 710-1101
    TEL.086-428-0230

• Overseas sites

  • FUSHUN WANTAI INDUSTRY CO.,LTD

    Fushun, Liaoning, China

  • MARUGO（SHANGHAI）TRADING CO.,LTD

    Shanghai, China

• Established

  May 04, 1919

• Capital

  30 million yen

• Annual sales

  4,700 million yen

• Employees

  140

• Membership

  The Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association
  Japan Rubber Footwear Manufacturers Association
  Okayama Rubber Industry Association
  Japan Safety Appliances Association
  Japan Protective Sneakers Association
  Japan Glove Manufacturers Association
  Japan DIY Industry Association

Company History

• 1919

  Established as the name of Marugo Tabi Company Ltd.
  Start integrated production of Jikatabi

• 1924

  Invite a German Engineer and start production of men’s leather shoes

• 1925

  Start production of a variety of rubber sole shoes

• 1926

  Receive a visit of Special Secretary of His Majesty the Prince

• 1927

  Host a 20 mile Marathon between Okayama and Chayamachi

• 1931

  Open the Tokyo Branch Office

• 1932

  Approved a patent for production of rubber coated gloves

• 1942

  Start production of industrial rubber parts

• 1951

  Receive a visit of His Highness Prince Mikasa

• 1954

  Separate the Kurashiki Factory to establish Marugo Rubber Industries Co., Ltd.

• 1961

  Change the company name as Marugo Industry Co., Ltd.

• 1964

  Approved as a JIS factory

• 1987

  Open Tokyo Sales Office

• 1995

  Establish Fushun Wantai Industry in Fshun, Liaoning, China

• 1999

  Change the company name to Marugo Company Inc.

• 2002

  Approved ISO9001

• 2003

  Establish and Join to Japan Protective Sneaker Association

• 2006

  Approved ISO14001

• 2010

  Establish Marugo Shanghai Tarding Company in Shanghai, China

• 2011

  Approved as a Good Enforcement Company in Product Safety (METI)

• 2013

  Awarded Ryokujuji Prize by Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association

• 2015

  Establish Marugo Holdings Co.,Ltd.

• 2018

  Awarded as The Driving Company for the Regional Future (METI)

• 2019

  Celebrate 100th year anniversary
  Open "MARUGO TOKYO" shop

• 2020

  Awarded "Kurashiki long history company" from Kurashiki City

• 2021

  Established and operation start new factory for production of industrial rubber parts
  Open "KOYAYA" shop
  Awarded Ryokujuji Prize by Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association for the second time

• 2022

  Open "MARUGO KURASHIKI" shop in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

Story Behind Tabi

If you have worn Kimono, a traditional clothing mostly worn by women but men’s version is also available, you probably put on Tabi on your feet. If you have experiences on participating in matsuri festivals where you carry Mikoshi or Danjiri, or performed traditional or modern dances, there should be good chances you put on Jikatabi as you enjoy those moments. Tabi (or Jikatabi) are traditional footwear very unique and only worn in Japan. Let’s take a look at the history.

We humans created footwear in order to protect our feet from the cold weather, heated ground in the summer, or sharp rocks and stubbles. In ancient times people created sandals by strapping ropes on animal skin boards. In Japan archeologists have found wooden boards, called “Tageta”, with protrusions that were gripped by toes to be used as work footwear on the rice fields. The Japanese then started weaving hay straws to make sandals called “Zori”. They added long straps on Zori so that the heels were more secure and could endure long distance walking. They called it “Waraji”.
To protect the feet from the cold air or even snow when they wear Waraji in winter, the Japanese created Tabi socks out of animal skins. Tabi (足袋) literally means”foot bag”, (足-foot 袋-bag). To have the strap securely held by toes, the shape of Tabi naturally became split between first and second toes. The materials were changed to cotton during Middle Ages when the cultivation of cotton became popular.

“Shoes” were also considered the symbol of authority in many cultures since the ancient times. In West, Bishops and high ranking officials wore fancy or conspicuous leather or wood shoes with sometimes very high heels. In Japan religious leaders and aristocrats wore special wooden or cloth shoes with thick soles. In Europe, the culture of wearing shoes spread into the general public, however, in Japan most people still wore sandal-type footwear such as Zori or Waraji. We do not know exactly why leather shoes remained uncommon in Japan up to modern times. The low availability of leather materials, humid climate, and lifestyle of not wearing footwear indoor might be the reasons.

In Edo period (starting 1603), farming of cotton were wide spread, and Cotton Tabi were made not only for the protection from the cold air or dirt, but also as a part of formal clothes. Special techniques such as Unsai Ori in Okayama were invented, and thicker and more durable, yet comfortable Tabi became very popular. By the end of Edo period to early Meiji period (1860’s to 70’s), metal hooks called “Kohaze” were invented and used to tie the heel side of Tabi, which is similar to modern days Tabi. Kurashiki became one of the top Tabi production areas in Japan thanks to broad cotton fields spread over the area.

On a side note, although Unsai Ori was mostly used for Tabi production at first, the technique was later introduced to manufacture military uniforms, and then student uniforms after the war. The technique further developed into producing Denim. The origin of famous Kojima Denim came from Tabi materials.

Marugo Company was established 1919 and started to produce Jikatabi in an integrated production system. At that time, Kurashiki area was famous for tabi (cotton textile) production, and rubber was a very late material introduced in Japanese Industry. The Company combined these two materials to create a new product of Jikatabi.

We are proud of our tradition that succeeded from the establishment, at the same time, put importance on innovative efforts to create new value. We strive to co-create brighter future through good communications with our customers, business partners, and local and global community.