ADLER’s Beliefs
Greetings.
I'm Takuya Murayama, the Co-Chief Executive Officer of ADLER Co., Ltd.
ADLER is a sports shoe company that was founded in 1955. Over the years, we’ve crafted shoes for various sports such as baseball, golf, skiing, mountaineering, and more. However, our current focus is on football boots. While our company name might give the impression of an overseas manufacturer, we're a proudly Japanese company, born in Nara Prefecture.
As I haven't actively shared information in the past, I’d like to start using my note page to share the values behind ADLER's business.
But first, allow me to briefly introduce myself.
[Takuya Murayama Profile]
Murayama, a former football player from Nara, faced childhood health challenges, including allergies and frequent injuries. Despite these hurdles, he captained teams through national competitions in middle and high school, later joining Japan's top university football team. Encountering skilled trainers sparked Murayama's interest in sports science, leading to studies at a prestigious university. Through diverse approaches, including training science and Eastern medicine, he overcame physical limitations, playing football professionally for around eight years. Post-retirement, Murayama joined Adler to help revive the Nara-local company.
While I was born in Osaka, I spent my entire childhood and upbringing in Nara Prefecture.
In football, I was selected as a candidate for the National Team selection trials as a U12 representative of Nara Prefecture and the Kansai region. However, I faced challenges due to injuries. In both middle school and high school, I was entrusted with the role of captain, leading my team to participate in the national championships. Still, my player career continued to be plagued by frequent injuries.
During both my middle school and high school years, I had the opportunity to meet excellent sports trainers. Thanks to their treatment and the specialized knowledge they provided about my body, I was able to continue my career as a player. Given this background, my desire to aspire to the top as a trainer strengthened. When the final tournament in my senior year in high school concluded, I decided to mark a hiatus to my career as a football player.
Following an unsuccessful first attempt and an additional year of intensive study, I successfully earned admission to Waseda University's School of Sports Sciences through the highly competitive regular entrance examination system. Initially, I had planned to dedicate myself to the path of a trainer. However, after receiving advice from someone who suggested, "Playing at a high level as a football player will provide insights into the mindset of top athletes and greatly benefit your work as a trainer," I decided to continue playing football at Waseda University's Association Football Club.
Simultaneously, I consistently put into practice the knowledge I gained about body movements on my own physique. Within that process, I felt the practical nuances that don't always align with the theoretical aspects, and as I pondered the causes, I deepened my understanding of the structure and movement of the body.
After graduating from university, amidst various career options, my desire to test my abilities as a football player became stronger. However, I viewed being a "football player" as just one possible profession in a practical sense. Therefore, I established a career plan that set a maximum duration of 10 years for my active playing career. During this time, I aimed to grow as a professional football player and as an individual. Following retirement, I planned to transition into a position within a regular corporation and pursue a career in the business world.
In pursuit of that realization, I relocated to Australia and secured a contract with a team in the second-tier league. As a professional player, I spent seven years in Australia and one year with a top-division team, HJK Helsinki in Finland before retiring.
Since high school, I'd been a loyal user of boots by ADLER, a local company in my hometown. Building on this relationship, I joined ADLER after my retirement and assumed the role of Co-Chief Executive Officer in 2023.
Now, I’d like to discuss the values behind ADLER.
- Emphasizing the Significance of Feet and Footwear
Footwear worn during childhood, albeit unintentionally, can gradually contribute to foot issues or deformities, influencing posture, walking, and developing bodily habits. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness and attention towards issues related to the feet, such as toe deformities, floating toes, and a decline in athletic performance. Nevertheless, there’s still limited recognition among the general public regarding the impact and significance of the condition of the feet and toes, which form the foundation of the body.
While it goes without saying that these factors directly influence the performance and injuries of athletes, beyond the realm of football, we’re committed to raising awareness about the importance of feet, toes, and footwear, as these are directly linked to the modern quality of life.
- Bringing Innovation to the Athletic Footwear Industry
Naturally, everyone has a completely unique foot structure. Therefore, the ideal for sports shoes is to be entirely customized, crafting shoes that perfectly match the individual's foot structure. This will lead to enhanced performance and reduced risk of injuries.
While it's not an overnight revolution, we’re eager to try and bring new value propositions to the industry. While we plan to expand our product offerings into various domains in the future, we’ll start with a focus on football shoes.
- Passing Down the Artistry of Craftsmanship
In the past, even major shoe manufacturers used to have their own factories domestically, actively engaged in manufacturing. However, nowadays, there is a growing trend of companies producing in bulk overseas to reduce costs, and there are very few manufacturers domestically producing football boots.
Amidst this trend, ADLER has been consistently crafting its products in Nara since its establishment, relying on the hands of skilled artisans. We carry on that determination, approaching our business with a solid commitment to passing down the craftsmanship, pride, and know-how cultivated by generations of artisans to the next, further developing and enhancing our legacy. We aim to effectively communicate the value and significance of "Made in Japan."
With the concept of “cultivating the future of all players,” we strive to foster a culture of craftsmanship that focuses on each person's individual foot characteristics.
While ADLER is still in the process of rebranding, we aim to share our beliefs and activities, increasing the number of individuals who resonate with our values and are willing to join us in crafting shoes.
We’d be delighted if you could check out our website and Instagram.
ADLER Co., Ltd. Official Website
Takuya Murayama
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