The history of Kenkoh and our journey to massage shoe perfection

In the spring of 1949, Mr Kyu-kichi Yamanashi, a former Japanese railway worker, established a small shoe factory, manufacturing traditional Japanese Geta footwear in the provincial town of Shizuoka in Japan. After suffering from tuberculosis Mr. Kyu-kichi began to experiment with ancient oriental feet treatments including ‘take-fumi’ – walking on bamboo shoots – and ‘soku-sin-do’ Japanese reflexology.

The impact on his health was remarkable – Mr Yamanashi made a dramatic recovery, and he set about applying these ancient healing principles into the designs of traditional Japanese shoes.

The very first Kenkoh massage shoe with the rubber nodules we use today came to life in 1965. The nodules were purposefully designed to replicate the ancient reflexology treatments Mr. Yamanashi had researched and perfected.

Almost 50 years since Kyu-kichi Yamanashi crafted his original reflexology shoe, the Yamanashi family continues to design and manufacture Kenkoh massage shoes using the original techniques developed by their grandfather. Millions of people worldwide have felt the Kenkoh difference with Kenkoh massage shoes, now available in over 40 countries.