mizutori creates modern Japanese wooden sandals (geta) designed for comfort and everyday wear.
What Is mizutori?
Episode 50
The Couple Behind mizutori
Recently,
we had the opportunity
to be filmed for NHK’s Weekend Chubu,
scheduled to air on May 16.
Until now,
television and radio appearances
have usually been handled
either by my husband Jonathan,
who serves as managing director,
or by our public relations staff.
The reason is quite simple:
As the president of the company,
I am extremely nervous in front of cameras.
To be completely honest,
I have also gained quite a bit of weight
since what I jokingly think of
as my “best years,”
and I never quite found the courage
to appear on television—
especially knowing that anyone might be watching.
The theme of this interview
was the “treasure”
my husband brought with him
from his home country.
At first glance,
it did not seem like there would be
much reason for me to appear.
But as the story unfolded—
why he came to Japan,
how we met,
and how we came to continue the family geta workshop—
it naturally became a story about both of us.
And so,
for this interview,
we appeared together as a couple.
Even though it was not live,
being filmed was still nerve-racking.
Even when only my husband appears on television,
I find myself anxiously watching
like a worried parent.
So when I had to sit beside him as well,
I became so nervous
that I could barely remember
what I had said afterward.
And yet,
as we answered the interview questions
and looked back on the past,
little by little,
the tension began to fade.
“There really was a time like that…”
It became a moment
of quietly remembering.
How he left everything behind
and came to Japan
so that I could succeed the family workshop
as its third generation.
How, the first time he wore mizutori’s geta,
he was surprised by how naturally they fit,
saying,
“It feels like I could run around in these.”
And how, in that moment,
I felt that together with him,
perhaps we might one day
share these geta with people around the world.
When we are caught up
in the work right in front of us,
there are feelings like these
that we sometimes forget.
But this interview
became a chance
to rediscover those beginnings once again.
The actual broadcast
may only last a few minutes.
Still,
we hope that through it,
people may catch a small glimpse
of the everyday life and feelings
behind mizutori’s geta.
The program will air only in the Chubu region of Japan,
but if you happen to live in an area where it can be viewed,
we would be very happy
if you watched it.
〈Program Information〉
Program: NHK Nagoya Weekend Chubu
Segment: “Treasures from Around the World”
Scheduled Air Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Broadcast Time: 7:30–8:00 AM
Broadcast Areas:
Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Shizuoka,
Ishikawa, Fukui, and Toyama Prefectures
