MESSAGE

When I was in sixth grade, Dragon Ball was my bible. One day, my eyes were fixed on the feet of Android 17 when he suddenly appeared in front of Goku.
Almost as if I were being pushed by something, I bought a similar pair of high-cut Converse All Stars. That moment marked the beginning of my life with sneakers.

When I entered junior high school, I started delivering newspapers for one reason only: to buy sneakers. I spent every yen of my monthly earnings—16,000 yen—without hesitation on them. I was obsessed. I thought about sneakers constantly. I even studied for entrance exams every night while wearing Jordan 6s at my desk.

Kazuki Maeda

Nine years after graduating high school and entering the workforce, one day I remembered something I had written in my middle school graduation album: “I will run a sneaker shop.” The passion and excitement of my student days came rushing back—and before I knew it, I was writing my resignation letter.

After attending a shoemaking school in Kobe, I moved to Florence, Italy—the heart of shoemaking—to study design. There, my teachers repeatedly told me: “Pursue an expression that only you, as a Japanese person, can create.”

As I searched for that answer, I realized something. To people from other countries, the Japanese language—with its use of hiragana, katakana, and kanji—is strange, yet fascinating. That realization pushed me to reexamine Japanese culture and heritage—things I had always taken for granted.
Beyond language, Japan has another identity it proudly offers the world: craftsmanship. From traditional arts to leatherwork, generations of artisans have refined their skills and passed them down. I felt that Japan’s deep respect for craftsmanship and aesthetics is perfectly aligned with sneaker making.

My desire was to bring together Japan’s culture and the dreams I had during the sneaker boom of the 1990s.
That dream—my entire life’s journey—is embodied in SANGACIO.

Kazuki Maeda
Representative Director / Founder

HISTORY

1980
Born in Hiroshima, Japan.
1992
Sixth-grade summer. After falling in love with Android 17 from Dragon Ball, I buy my very first pair of sneakers: Converse All Star High. Everything starts here.
1993
Spring of junior high. A neighborhood basketball guy introduces me to Nike Air Jordans. There’s no turning back.
1993
Summer. I start delivering newspapers—purely to afford a pair of Nike Jordan 8s (Black/Blue). Priorities are clear.
1994
Spring. Riding the momentum, I pick up Nike Jordan 1 (Retro). Sensible financial decisions are already out the window.
1995
Summer. I mail cash to a sneaker shop in Tokyo to buy Nike Jordan 11s. My parents find out. I get in trouble. Worth it.
1995
Winter. I study for entrance exams wearing deadstock Jordan 6s (Maroon). I fail my first-choice school, but the sneakers survive.
1996
Spring. My sneaker collection officially exceeds 20 pairs. I feel accomplished.
1997
Summer. Hydrolysis claims 10 pairs of sneakers. My first real lesson in sneaker mortality.
2003
Sneaker love accelerates. After buying New Balance NB1700 (Japan Limited), my debt quietly passes 3 million yen.
2012
Wearing sneakers is no longer enough. I enroll in a shoemaking school in Kobe.
2012
I complete the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage wearing Adidas Climacool. My feet learn many things.
2013
I move to Italy to study shoemaking at its source.
2014
I walk Spain’s Camino de Santiago in Gore-Tex shoes, learning the importance of materials the hard way—step by step.
2015
Sangacio Japan Co., Ltd. is founded. Finally, sneakers become my job.
2017
Using the cement pattern from the Nike Jordan 3 I admired for years, I create my first original model under my brand, NEW'Z SNEAKERS.
2018
My first sneaker collaboration takes place with New York City. I travel to Hawaii with my family, planning to run the Honolulu Marathon in the collaboration model. I line up overnight for a limited Jordan 11 (Retro “Concord”) release—and fail. I somehow walk away with Adidas Yeezy Boosts instead. A small miracle.
2020
As the company finds its footing, my sneaker collection grows again—this time with a focus on rare pairs.
2022
Riding the NFT wave, I release “NEW'Z Sneakers” as NFTs.
2024
I start sharing sneaker stories and information on X.
2025
A radio program launches in my hometown of Hiroshima, where I host a regular segment talking about the behind-the-scenes world of sneaker making. (Link to program)

Q&A

QHow do I choose the right size?
AWe recommend selecting your usual size. However, depending on the model, some customers may prefer a slightly smaller size for a better fit. Please refer to the product description for details.
QCan I exchange for a different size?
ADue to the limited nature of our products, size exchanges are generally not available. Please contact us first, and we will check availability if possible.
QHow long does shipping take?
AShipping times vary depending on the destination country. Generally, delivery takes approximately 3–10 business days after shipment.
QWill I need to pay import duties, taxes, or customs fees?
AImport duties, taxes, and customs fees are not included in the product price or shipping fee. These charges may be applied once your order arrives in your country and are the responsibility of the customer. As regulations vary by country, we recommend checking with your local customs office for more information.
QCan I cancel or change my order after placing it?
AOnce an order has been placed, cancellations or changes are generally not accepted. Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any concerns.
QCan I pay in installments with a credit card?
AInstallment payments may be available depending on your credit card provider and country. Please note that some cards (such as AMEX and Diners Club) only support one-time payment.
QI want to change my payment method.
AAs changes cannot be made after completing your purchase, please contact us through the “Inquiry” section on our web store.
QI want to apply a coupon after completing my purchase.
APlease note that coupons cannot be applied after the purchase process has been completed.
QWhere are the shoes made?
ACountry of production: Thailand.
Our products are handmade at our directly managed workshop, “SANGACIO INTERNATIONAL.”

In Japan, the shoe manufacturing process—such as gluing, sole production, sewing, and inspection—is typically divided across multiple factories. To maintain full control over quality, we established our own workshop in Thailand, a hub in Southeast Asia where global sneaker manufacturing equipment and expertise are concentrated.

By managing the entire process in-house between Japan and Thailand—from planning and manufacturing to quality control, import/export, and sales—we are able to provide products of exceptionally high quality.
QCould you please provide instructions on how to care for these shoes?
AFor brushed materials, use a shoe brush. For coated surfaces, wipe with a damp cloth. You may also use commercial shoe cleaners if needed.
QIs it okay to use waterproof spray on these shoes?
AYes, you can. Please use a colorless, transparent spray.