Japan has always been a place where strange stories come to life in surprising ways. Yokai, the monsters of Japanese folklore, can take many different forms, from the creepiest yurei that inspired modern horror films to the crazy haunted umbrellas, sandals or lanterns.

The Yokai story is linked to current trends and reflects the comeback of Y2K rock and skateboard thrasher culture in the form of the revived iconography of skulls and ghosts. With the Yokai, which focuses on Mizuno's Wave Rider 10 from the 2000s, Mizuno has succeeded in creating a wonderful Yokai homage.

In addition to the accents on the surface and the Yokai-like colorway, Mizuno has hidden a unique embroidery under the mesh layer of the tongue - you can cut open the mesh to free the monster behind it. For the Wave Rider 10 “Yokai”, three different monsters were chosen: Gashadokuro - the giant skeleton made famous by ukiyo-e paintings; Chochin Obake, the haunted lantern - a strange eye and tongue suddenly tear the paper and emerge from an innocent lantern; Yurei, the terrifying female spirits from mythology that have had a great influence on modern horror films such as “Ring” or “Grudge”.

Japan's unique Mizuno brand pulls another gem from the archives: the Wave Rider as a “Yokai” edition. Why this fantastic chunky design was so long in coming is completely incomprehensible, because this runner has everything that characterized running shoes in the mid and late nineties. This ranges from very good cushioning and support that leaves nothing to be desired to a chunky, powerful look that could hardly have been more dynamic. The Mizuno Wave Rider 10 “Yokai” is made for people who are breaking new ground and like the trendy dad style!

features & facts

• soft, breathable textile lining
• Mizuno branding applied to the side
• foamed footbed
• foamed midsole
• rubber outsole with in-house profile, whose strategically positioned foot grooves help the foot roll in different directions
• embroidered Yokai graphic under the mesh layer of the tongue
• Wave Rider 10 branding on the sides
• Mizuno's unique Wave technology for ultimate comfort

material

• mesh, suede and synthetic upper

size & fit

• please see the size guide above