MaSha Pointe Shoes- From Russia To Japan

One would think that seeing Handmade in Russia on a pointe shoe sole would mean a simple search in Russian for puanty MaSha.

Then,  I would find loads of wonderful information to add to the brands database. It would be quick. Easy. Chock full of information.

However, the only place I ended up was right back here. After all these years writing about brands, you would think I have learned to search through the morning fog  in Cape Cod, Massachusetts before I assume that what is made in a country is available in that country. I should also remember that brands can be invented, promoted, lose steam, and die out long before I discover their existence. They can also be made in Russia to be sold only in Japan. 

Does MaSha Mean Misha In Japanese?

Because I don’t know when these pointe shoes appeared on the market, it is hard to say if they were intentionally destined for the Japanese market. The name MaSha is incredibly close to the name Misha, but that is simply me reminiscing about the shoe treasures of the Baryshnikov brand. I could find absolutely no proof that Misha translates to MaSha in any language. However, if you know anything about these interesting shoes, feel free to share.

Specifications Of The MaSha Full Sole Model

It is always wonderful when you can read dancer accounts of a particular brand or model. However, with these, we only have the general description to go by. Currently, the Full-sole model appears to have the following specifications:

• Long vamps
• Medium strength shanks
• Elastic drawstrings
• Narrow, normal, or wide width
• Made in sizes 35-40
• Available in Light Pink only

Is This Simply Another Demand For Russian Aesthetics?

MaSha Soft

Under the Japanese Pointe Shoe Brand Category on this site, you will see that they definitely know how to create shoes with beautiful aesthetics. Although some may be collectors items today, Japan is no stranger to pointe design and construction. However, I can imagine today’s young and savvy students asking for shoes that are made where many of the worlds finest dancers get theirs; Russia.

Learning More About The MaSha Brand

MaSha 3/4 Sole

This particular brand took me on quite a hunt. I thoroughly scoured the Internet for mentions, reviews, photos, and even videos. There are lone photos of them here and there, but only one company website that actually features all three models; Fairy of Japan.

I was thrilled to find this pretty dance shop and learn a bit about its history. It began in 1989 as a small shop in Gaienmae , Tokyo, but now has its larger storefront in Omotesando.

Although it is disappointing to consider that this brand might not have reached the heights of popularity that Russian-made pointe shoes typically do, it is an interesting lesson about global manufacturing and  logistics.

How far is it from Russia to Japan? From Moscow to Tokyo, a little more than 4,600 miles by air with an approximate travel time of 9 hours. After such a long trip, I have to ask the question; are they selling? When you visit Google Translate to go from English to Japanese, enter the following url- https://www.fairynet.co.jp/SHOP/1132120/list.html   ( scroll down) and click on the models, each comes with a message that states : stock will not be renewed.

So there we have it. Made in Russia or not, it appears that dancers in Japan prefer the Grishko name to a made-in-Russia MaSha. How long were they on the market as a fully-available stockable shoe? As they say in Japanese: 

わかりません  ( I don’t know).

Fairy of Japan

Sylvia Of Japan-New Choices, Old Intruders

Sylvia of Japan has always produced some of the prettiest pointe shoe models I have ever seen. All of them are well-balanced and beautifully constructed. My most recent visit to their website brought good news and bad news. First, the good news.  Four new models have popped up on their site since my last post about the company.

The Latest Additions To The Sylvia Website

Some of the newest models have more than one version. The new models are the Fioretto, Reine, Vega II, Vega III and Ellis. I am happy to see that production and inventiveness continue on with this fascinating company. Here are the new models I found since my last Sylvia post:

Fioretto-The name Fioretto sounds quite Italian, doesn’t it? It can be summed up as meaning little flower which is quite lovely. As with most of the other models, dancers can choose from three shades of pink.

This is a narrow, low-profile shoe with shock-absorbing shanks. There are two shank length choices; full or 3/4.  The liners in the entire collection are different from one another.

Offering Different Shades Of Pink For Dancers

With tights and leotards coming in many shades and variations of pink, giving dancers their choice of hues can create a more cohesive and professional look. Some of the pointe models offer two shades of pink, but most come with your choice of three.

Not only are the shade choices dance-friendly, but the artistic quality and attention to detail on the Reine sole is impressive. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any images of the sole design on the other models.

Reine

Vega II

Ellis

Bad News For Brand Purists And Categorizing Bloggers

I was very disappointed to see that Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are now featured on their website. Here is another glaring announcement that dancers crave elastomeric shoes and that the company wanted to expand their range for business reasons. After searching through the shoes, I also found the Elektra by SoDanca and the Grishko Pro Flex. As they say in Japanese, 残念だ, or It’s a shame. It is sad from a blogging, new-pointe-brand-searching perspective.

New Models Are Made, Old Ones Disappear

In a post that was published way back in July of 2010, Sylvia had a different range of models than what you see today. Although some survive, many are no longer featured on their website. You can see some of those models in this older post, Sylvia Pointe Shoes.

I was surprised to see that the models featured on Sylvia’s website don’t include many details. They feature the price, sizes and color only. To view the latest Sylvia pointe shoe models you need to scroll down a bit on this page: Shop Sylvia Ballet. 

 

Arcotte Muse J Pointe Shoes From Japan

It is an understatement to say this brand from Japan was a thrill to find. It reconfirmed for me that there is always something new brewing out there in pointe shoe world. The Muse J title differentiates the model from the Russian Pointe Muse because the J stands for Japan. There is also that beautiful touch of  delicate artistry that the Japanese do with perfection.

The Sole Design Is Both Artistic And Informational

The first thing I noticed about the sole design was the imprinting of what appears to be birds in flight. Lovely, light, graceful in flight. The epitome of a ballerina. The second thing that stands out are the six model specifications that tell you everything you need know for a customized fit. Two are size, then width, shank strength, sole hardness, then box type.

When I look at the pretty images of these shoes, my collector alarm doesn’t stop ringing. I find them absolutely fascinating. I cannot imagine what retirement would be like for an out-of-control collector. No food, just boiled shanks and an occasional ribbon for lunch.

There Are A Few Mysteries To Solve About The Arcotte Brand Name

According to the Arcotte About page, the brand was created as a collaboration between a ballet dancer and an experienced shoemaker with 50-plus years of making dance shoes.

I spent an incredible amount of time trying to find their names and photos, but didn’t have any luck. The name Naoto Takahashi is mentioned as Shopkeeper on the About page, but makes no mention of whether he designs the shoes or not.

Who is Naoto Takahashi? Who is the ballet dancer that conjured up  this pretty brand? It will take 時間と忍耐 ( time and patience). Hopefully I will be able to find out more soon.

It is wonderful to see a brand on video like this.

According to their product page, the Muse J pointe shoe is a made to order model that takes 3-4 weeks for delivery. Dancers can choose from 4 widths, 3 types of shanks, 3 types of sole hardness, and 3 types of boxes. All of these different choices enable the company to construct a pointe shoe that has 108 different configurations.

Even if you can’t read Japanese, it is interesting to visit the Arcotte Shop page to see their products. You can also visit Arcotte on Facebook.

Esmellia Japanese Pointe Shoes-Mail Order Mystery Company

While writing my previous post about a Tokyo-based custom pointe shoe maker, I was keeping another Japanese brand under wraps until I had as much information to share with you as I possibly could. It is both exciting and frustrating to find a new brand out there, yet one that has so little to offer in the way of specifics.

Esmellia Is An Japanese Mail Order Company Of Dance Supplies

I can honestly say that Google Translate received quite a workout as I went through the Esmellia website looking for their company history and an address. What they do advertise is the fact that they are a mail order business. They offer a simple contact email, nothing else.

There Are Two Esmellia  Pointe Shoe Variations

Esmellia features two models on their website; a **full shank and a 3/4 shank model. The full sole pictured here comes with a medium shank strength. You can see the company logo which resembles some type of  Tulip flower.

**According to the product page, the full sole model will be for sale until inventory runs out. That could mean that this shoe will end up in the discontinued grave yard.

Esmellia Is Not Active On Social Media

Unfortunately, this company doesn’t do any marketing on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites. They are somewhat of a mystery. No street address, no founder name, no clue as to what part of Japan Esmellia operates from. You can visit their official website @ Esmellia.jp. To see the shoes, click on the last button under PRODUCTS on the left side.

If there are any Japanese language experts out there, I would love to know if you can find an address or company history I may have missed.

Tokyo-Based Custom Pointe Shoes By Avignon

Avignon Pointe Shoes Japan

One of the most beautiful things about the ballet world is how connected it is globally.  A dancer in New York and one at the barre in Japan maybe practicing the very same exercise using exactly the same terminology. Most pointe shoes are named not by country, but by variation, character, ballet story, or individual steps.

Thinking about this connection and different countries, my latest pointe shoe brand discovery confirmed this interesting intertwining of cultures and names.  It is the Japanese dance shop with a very French name; Avignon.

Avignon Has A Shop In The Tokyo District Of Setagaya

Avignon Storefront

Nestled among the crowded streets of Tokyo, in the Setagaya district, is a dance shop where they make custom pointe shoes by hand to your specification.

If you are a follower of my posts, you already know how much I respect the craftsmanship of custom-made pointe shoes.

It’s nice to know there is one more manufacturer that does pointe shoes in this personalized way. These smaller shops can not only give you personalized attention, but a real working relationship with the maker of your shoes.

Although the post is very old, I enjoyed reading about one dancer’s experience with her custom Avignon shoes; Fumie’s New Pointe Shoes. The pictures are lovely.

To visit their  official website go to Avignon.co.jp.  Under the Home category links on the left side, choose the first one to see the shoes. Sadly, I couldn’t find any social media presence for Avignon at this time.

Sogei Pointe Shoes; As Beautiful As A Japanese Garden

Sogei Pointe Shoe Sole

As much I love discovering any kind of new pointe shoe brand, I love it even more when they take my breath away because of  their sheer loveliness.

I always thought that Ballerina and Sylvia of Japan had some pretty models, but now we have another Japanese brand to drool over; Sogei.

A Little Bit About Sogei

The Sogei Dancewear Company is based in Tokyo, Japan with its headquarters in Nerima-ku. It was founded by Endo Quing in 1950. He  had a passionate quest to create hand-cobbled pointe shoes that wouldn’t kill a dancer’s feet with poor fit, no support and ugly aesthetics.

Translating Japanese To English Is A Challenge

The peaceful serenity of a Japanese garden

As this website grows and grows, so does my interest in ballet “jargon” in other languages.  Because Google Translate is just a basic tool, sometimes it simply doesn’t translate certain words from one language to the next. Japanese into English is one of those examples.

However, some are easy enough to guess. Take for instance, the Sogei models named Borishoi and Ohrora. In ballet lingo, we can assume that this is how Bolshoi and Aurora are spelled or pronounced in Japanese.

Sogei Specializes In Pointe Shoe Making 

When I found the Sogei website, I browsed through the navigation just taking a wild guess at what category I was clicking on. Without using Google translate, it took me a few minutes to realize that Sogei of Japan is a 100% dance shoe manufacturer.

Not having to hunt through dozens of leotard and accessory pages makes it easier when you are a “tourist” who doesn’t speak the language. With this company, it’s all about the shoes. The Sogei Collection encompasses six models plus one pre-pointe; Toe Balance, Royal, Borishoi, Ohrora, Cerrito, Elisabeth and Pre-Toe.

Exploring The Pretty Sogei Pointe Shoe Models

Toe Balance by Sogei

The Toe Balance Specifications:

The Toe Balance is one of the newest models to the Sogei collection. It made its debut in April of 2014.

• Created with a wide center of balance for extra stability
• Available in 4 widths and 3 shank strengths
• Choose from v-vamp or u-shape throat

 

---

Borishoi by Sogei

 The Borishoi Specifications:

• A V-vamp Russian-style shoe with low-cut sides to enhance the arch.
• Tapered toe box suitable for narrow feet.

 

---

 

Sogei Ohrora

 The Ohrora Specifications:

• A customized model where you can choose heel depth, shank strength, width, sides and profile preferences.

 

---

Sogei Royal

 The Royal Specifications:

• European-cut shoe suitable for many foot types.
• Comes in v-vamp or u-shape with several choices of shank strengths.

 

---

 

Pre-Toe by Sogei

The Pre-Toe

• A pre-pointe model to condition the feet for real pointe shoes.
• All of the Sogei models are made of the finest texture of  satin. They photograph beautifully.

---

 

Pointe Shoes Made To Fit Dancer Specifications On Order 

Sogei Cerrito- A U-shaped vamp model for more advanced dancers that can be customized

Sogei Elisabeth- An easy to break in model that can be made to order with low or high sides, custom toe box shape, shank strength and vamp cut.

Navigating the website looks scary if you can’t read Japanese. If you visit the official website of Sogei,  click on the 3rd category button down on the left side to see the shoes. The 4th button also shows more variations.

The Pre-Toe is featured with the soft slippers here: http://www.sogei-shoes.com/other.html

My personal favorite is the elegant Borishoi. I also find it admirable that a company like Sogei of Japan chooses to focus all of their energy and skills on creating one thing and one thing only; shoes for dancers. That probably makes them very, very good at what they do.