Missed the 1300JP? The Made in Japan 576 is Your Redemption Pair

Can you really improve on a classic? That’s the question New Balance is challenging with its latest the 576 Made in Japan "Brown".

A model born in 1988 for offroad runners and since turned into a streetwear classic, the 576 now returns with a meticulous Japanese touch, courtesy of M.Lab — and trust us, this one’s special.

Landing exclusively via New Balance Japan's online store on December 19, the Made in Japan 576 comes dressed in a rich, chocolate brown leather, sourced sustainably from a certified Japanese tannery. It’s soft, premium and packed with nods to the original, from the classic shape and punchy details to the comfy ENCAP cushioning underfoot.

But what makes this pair a bit of a unicorn isn’t just the material. It’s the energy behind each stitch. The 576 is crafted with the same care you’d expect from a Kyoto tea caddy or a handmade piece of pottery.

There are a number of reasons for the increased price point on New Balance's Made in Japan editions, or 'Nippon Made' as other brands call it. This is mainly due to the hike in cost per unit, with no dedicated New Balance factory in Japan unlike with Flimby in the UK as well as Massachusetts and Maine base in the US.

This means outsourcing the production to M.Lab, founded by Hitoshi Mimura, a leather working which takes pride in the hand-made process behind footwear. This means it takes longer to make each shoe, which in combination with higher quality material send the RRP soaring. What is also interesting is that a lot of the Made in Japan editions don't even hit the secondary market because they often find themselves in the hands of true New Balance collectors.

It is also worth bearing in mind that New Balance has to ship the midsole units to M.Lab in Japan, which can add to the production mileage on each unit. Not to mention getting the 576 Lasts over to Japan or approving the ones that M.Lab would use in-house would increase the logistical costs.

Outsourcing production, the heavily hand-made nature and quality materials all are reasons why the New Balance Made in Japan editions are so expensive.

As Takahiro Yagi, sixthgen head of heritage tea brand Kaikado, puts it: "Craftsmanship is not about I, but WE." It’s about capturing comfort that you can’t quite put into numbers.

At £450 (86,900 yen), the price might give you pause and that’s totally fair. Still, when you factor in the packaging (think dual shoe bags, a leather wrapped shoehorn, and a cedarwood dehumidifier), it feels less like a trainer drop and more like a collectors piece.

And for anyone still stinging from missing out on the elusive NB 1300JP earlier this year, this Made in Japan 576 might just be the next best thing. Although like we learnt on the NB 1500 Made in Japan you don't want to be caught sleeping before the prices up. It’s a classic silhouette with all the meticulous detail you would want from a New Balance from Japan.

You can stay up to date on this Made in Japan New Balance release by downloading to The Sole Supplier app!