Karhu releases two colorways for Trampas to celebrate the special relationship between two countries on opposite sides of the globe.

When it comes to running, Finland and Japan have a unique history. Back in the ’50s and ’60s, the Finns were some of the few foreign athletes to travel and compete at the Fukuoka Marathon, one of the longest-running competitions of its type in Japan. A shared appreciation for distance running became the foundation for a long-lasting friendship.

With the biggest global sports event happening in Tokyo, this summer was the perfect time to celebrate the special friendship between the two nations. This story is told through Karhu’s iconic 1960s running silhouette, the Karhu Trampas, deemed as “the best training shoe in the world” by one of the greatest distance running coaches of all times, Sir Arthur Lydiard.

The “Friendship” Pack is inspired by the national colours of Japan and Finland and consists of the Trampas in two versions. The M-logo Trampas, the Japan version, features a white grained leather upper and red suede M-logo design, while the Finland version features a blue suede upper and a white grained leather support stripe. Both shoes are decorated with a debossed and gold printed Karhu wordmark, used initially on Karhu footwear in the ’50s and ’60s. To set the pack apart, both pairs come with free matching Made in Italy socks.

The pack was exclusively pre-launched on the 23rd of July in Japan, when the best athletes in the world came together in Tokyo.

Trampas White/Red and Blue/White are now available in-store and online.

130€