The Eastern Edge

Takehiko Inoue doesn't whore his characters out to anyone who will pay like many other comic creators in Japan do. Especially with Vagabond, he has taken a very conservative approach to marketing, something I really respect him for. Nothing would ruin Vagabond more than a cheap anime-style cartoon or a Kojiro mobile phone strap.

Having said that, while Inoue has done a great job maintaining his integrity and that of his work, it doesn't mean there's nothing out there!

Now you too can travel Japan on foot until your feet bleed, just like real ronin did back in the early 1600's, in your own pair of Inoue designed Vagabond sandals!

I must admit, I'd kind of like to have a pair.

However, it seems there were only 1000 of these limited edition shoes and they were only available this month in Sendai for the final stop on the Vagabond "LAST Manga Exhibition" tour. At about $30 a pop I bet they went fast too. I also bet every single person who got a pair has them displayed on a shelf at home right now and will never ever wear them.

If I had a pair, I would wear them. I would walk the trials from Mt. Takao all the way to Kansai in them and then send Takehiko Inoue some photo reference of my feet to show him what Musashi's may have actually looked like after some of his legendary treks between Kansai and Edo. Based on some of the timelines given for his travels, some believe he was capable of travelling much like those couriers in ancient times who literally ran from city to city. Apparently Musashi and most bushi of the day who didn't have horses could 'walk' faster than people today jog - without cushioned shoes like us wimps have now too!

Unless they are reissued someday I won't get to do any Tokyo to Kansai walks in Inoue designed Vagabond sandals. I wouldn't be able to find the time to do it before Vagabond ends anyway.

Oh, well...

The design is pretty cool so I just thought I'd share.