The size of Japanese leather shoes and the size of national brand sneakers are different.(日本の革靴のサイズとナショナルブランドのスニーカーのサイズは違います。)

Difference between national brand sneaker size and Japanese leather shoe size.(ナショナルブランドのスニーカーサイズと日本の革靴サイズの違い)

The size notation standard for Japanese leather shoes is different from the size notation standard for national brand sneakers.
I will explain the difference.

Difference between national brand sneaker size and Japanese leather shoe size (JIS)
 ・Compare actual size
Conversion table between sneaker size and Japanese leather shoe size (JIS)
 ・Men’s & Unisex
 ・Women’s

(Text,Photo,Illustration/ Nobuyuki Oshima


Difference between national brand sneaker size and Japanese leather shoe size (JIS)

Japanese leather shoe size and sneaker size(日本の革靴サイズと海外スニーカーのサイズの違い)

Japanese leather shoes are sized according to JIS standards (Japanese Industrial Standards).
The JIS standard stipulates that the total length of the foot should be indicated.
On the other hand, The size notation (cm/inch to centimeter) of national brand sneakers does not indicate the total length of the foot.
The size (cm) of national brand sneakers seems to be the total length of the foot plus the toe margin.

Therefore, there is often a difference of 0.5 to 1.5 cm between the size notation (cm) of national brand sneakers and the size (cm) of Japanese leather shoes. The difference is about 0.5 to 1.0 cm for women’s shoes and about 1.0 to 1.5 cm for men’s shoes.

For example, US11 size (29cm) for national brand sneakers(Nike, Adidas, Converse, etc.)is equivalent to 27.0-27.5cm for Japanese leather shoes, not 29.0cm.

For example, US11 size (29cm) for national brand sneakers(Nike, Adidas, Converse, etc.)is equivalent to 27.0-27.5cm for Japanese leather shoes, not 29.0cm.

Compare actual sizes

Let’s compare the size of 29.0cm (US11) Converse sneakers and Japanese leather shoes.

29cm Converse sneakers (US11) and Japanese leather shoes (29.0cm)
29.0cm Japanese leather shoes are too big compared to 29cm (US11) Converse sneakers.
29cm (US11) Converse sneakers and 27.0cm Japanese leather shoes
29cm (US11) Converse sneakers are the same size as Japanese leather shoes 27.0-27.5cm.

(Leather shoes in the photo/PARASHOE oxford dress shoes men’s22~32cm goodyearwelted made in japan)


Conversion table between sneaker size and Japanese leather shoe size (JIS)

I made a size conversion table(This is my experience, just a guideline),so please refer to it when you purchase Japanese leather shoes.

Men’s & Unisex

JIS=Japanese leather shoes size

US=3.5
UK=3
JP=22.5(cm)
JIS=22.0cm

US=4
UK=3.5
JP=23(cm)
JIS=22.0~22.5cm

US=4.5
UK=4
JP=23.5(cm)
JIS=22.5cm

US=5
UK=4.5
JP=23.5(cm)
JIS=22.5~23.0cm

US=5.5
UK=5
JP=24(cm)
JIS=23.0cm

US=6
UK=5.5
JP=24(cm)
JIS=23.0~23.5cm

US=6.5
UK=6
JP=24.5(cm)
JIS=23.5cm

US=7
UK=6~6.5
JP=25(cm)
JIS=24.0cm

US=7.5
UK=6.5~7
JP=25.5(cm)
JIS=24.5cm

US=8
UK=7~7.5
JP=26(cm)
JIS=25.0cm

US=8.5
UK=7.5~8
JP=26.5(cm)
JIS=25.5cm

US=9
UK=8~8.5
JP=27(cm)
JIS=26.0cm

US=9.5
UK=8.5~9
JP=27.5(cm)
JIS=26.5cm

US=10
UK=9~9.5
JP=28(cm)
JIS=27.0cm

US=10.5
UK=9.5~10
JP=28.5(cm)
JIS=27.0~27.5cm

US=11
UK=10~10.5
JP=29(cm)
JIS=27.5cm

US=11.5
UK=10.5~11
JP=29.5(cm)
JIS=28.0cm

US=12
UK=11~11.5
JP=30(cm)
JIS=28.5cm

US=12.5
UK=11.5~12
JP=30.5(cm)
JIS=29.0cm

US=13
UK=12~12.5
JP=31(cm)
JIS=29.5cm

US=13.5
UK=12.5~13
JP=31.5(cm)
JIS=30.0cm

US=14
UK=13~13.5
JP=32(cm)
JIS=30.5cm

US=14.5
UK=13.5~14
JP=32.5(cm)
JIS=31.0cm

US=15
UK=14~14.5
JP=33(cm)
JIS=31.5cm

US=15.5
UK=14.5~15
JP=33.5(cm)
JIS=32.0cm

Women’s

JIS=Japanese leather shoes size

US=4
UK=2
JP=21.5(cm)
JIS=21.0cm

US=4.5
UK=2.5
JP=22.0(cm)
JIS=21.5cm

US=5
UK=3
JP=22.5(cm)
JIS=22.0cm

US=5.5
UK=3.5
JP=23(cm)
JIS=22.5cm

US=6
UK=4
JP=23.5(cm)
JIS=23.0cm

US=6.5
UK=4.5
JP=23.5(cm)
JIS=23.0~23.5cm

US=7
UK=5
JP=24(cm)
JIS=23.5cm

US=7.5
UK=5.5
JP=24(cm)
JIS=23.5~24.0cm

US=8
UK=6
JP=24.5(cm)
JIS=24.0cm

US=8.5
UK=6
JP=25(cm)
JIS=24.0~24.5cm

US=9
UK=6.5
JP=25.5(cm)
JIS=24.5~25.0cm

US=9.5
UK=7
JP=26(cm)
JIS=25.0~25.5cm

US=10
UK=7.5
JP=26.5(cm)
JIS=25.5~26.0cm

US=10.5
UK=8
JP=27(cm)
JIS=26.0~26.5cm

US=11
UK=8.5
JP=27.5(cm)
JIS=26.5~27.0cm

US=11.5
UK=9
JP=28(cm)
JIS=27.0cm


shopping at Japanese shoe stores

『Buy(shopping)shoes in japan』-Japanese words and conversation used when shopping at Japanese shoe stores
We will explain the English translations of Japanese words and conversation used when shopping at Japanese shoe stores. Please use this information when buying shoes in Japan.