Onitsuka Tiger today announced the launch of the Koi Koi, the third sneaker that it has created in collaboration with Berlin design collective Koi Klub.

The sneaker has a two-tone “nude” colour scheme, which uses contrasting flesh tones – pink for the body and a pale brown for the heel stripes and toe caps. This is combined with detailing in orange. The nude colour scheme is intended to symbolize the bare skin of lovers, while the orange signifies the heat of intense passion. The lining is grey.

Each shoe in the pair is laser-etched with a different Japanese character, standing for “intense” and “love” respectively, but of course both are pronounced the same way – “koi”. The word “koi” has as many as six meanings in Japanese, and Koi Klub uses these linguistic possibilities as the inspiration for all its designs. The repetition of the word in the phrase “koi koi” translates as “intense love” in English.

The design of the sneaker is based on that of the LAY-UP 72. This is a contemporary replica of the classic LAY-UP NYLON shoe from 1972, an early example of the trend in youth fashion towards sports shoes as leisure wear.

Three other carefully selected fashion wear designers have also been invited to get involved in the Koi Koi project, two from Koi Klub’s native Germany and one from Onitsuka Tiger’s homeland of Japan. They were chosen because they share Onitsuka Tiger and Koi Koi’s creativity, attention to detail, passion for quality and authentic spirit.

Tokyo-based Zillion created the laces for the Koi Koi sneakers, which are made from vintage kimono fabric and use the same orange colours as the shoes themselves.

The two German partners, meanwhile, were asked to come up with accessories that would complement the Koi Koi sneaker. Airbag Craftworks has created a version of its Chicago bag that uses the beige nude colour of the sneaker outer and the grey of its lining, combined as in the shoe with orange detailing. The bag is made of high-quality lightweight water-resistant cotton and a rich soft leather, and is supplied with a grey classical Pentel pen. Berlin-based A.D. Deertz, meanwhile, has designed a stylish soft cotton T-shirt which juxtaposes a nude pink body with the red-brown colour used for the taping around the outsole of the shoes.

Look out for a release at selected sneaker retailers across Europe in the coming months.

Onitsuka Tiger was inspired by Sumi for their Fall/Winter 2010 apparel and footwear collection. They introduce the technique with the video here above.

“Following on from SS10, The Sumi collection for Autumn/Winter takes its inspiration from the monochrome colour palette and the age-old Japanese art form of Calligraphy. Sumi refers to Japanese charcoal and black ink, which are represented in the latest Onitsuka Tiger range by black, grey tones and subtle ink drop patterns.”

Enjoy!

“Another Onitsuka Tiger product job for Amsterdam Worldwide. This time the inspiration was from fishermen gear and tuna(?) and the overall subject was Tsuri, (tradional) fishing in Japan. I’m sure that the average japanese fisherman won’t see a lot of accuracy, but we thought it looked very real:-)”

Berlin based Reality Studio has collaborated with Onitsuka Tiger. They worked on the Fabre Light RS. The mid top sneaker comes in two colorways this year with an intersting open part on the heel and fringe decoration on the heel and next to the laces. More news on this release will follow soon.

Continuing with their ‘Made of Japan’ global campaign, 2010 will see Onitsuka Tiger launch ‘Hidden Tiger,’ a campaign that invites us to explore and discover all things Japanese-cool. As with previous years, this launch is signalled by the creation of a giant shoe model. This time inspired by Tansu, the fascinating Japanese woodworking tradition.

The age-old art of Tansu combines remarkable carpentry, lacquering and ironwork to produce extraordinary handcrafted chests, cabinets and boxes.  Onitsuka Tiger’s Tansu trainer incorporates all of these elements and reflects the masterful craftsmanship that characterises Japanese art.

The giant sneaker sculpture is made up of a number of compartments in various shapes and sizes meticulously slotted into place – impressively the art of Tansu involves no nails. Created in a traditional wood shop in Japan, the expert craftsmen have learnt how to use their bodyweight and movement to shave off wood to give the drawers a perfect fit.

To get to know the story behind a Tansu, you need to see the chest close up. The design and finish of each Tansu reveals a lot about its origin, owner and purpose. You may even discover secret compartments, hidden behind false doors and pseudo floors. These drawers were originally used to conceal kimonos, medicinal herbs and swords amongst other items. By exploring each compartment and drawer in the Onitsuka Tiger Tansu shoe you can get a glimpse into Japanese culture as well as product and collection inspirations.

The world’s first ever Tansu trainer will be on tour throughout the year, beginning its journey at Offspring in Selfridges on Oxford Street from Friday.

Detailed images of the Onitsuka Tiger Tansu Trainer follow after the jump.

Onitsuka Tiger will release their new Spring/Summer 2010 Campaign this month. It invites people to explore elements of the brand’s heritage through the traditional Japanese art and craft of Tansu, a fascinating – but relatively unheard-of – part of Japan’s woodworking tradition. More to come soon.

To round off a successful year, Onitsuka Tiger is focusing on the cat – the animal that, according to Japanese folklore, came last in a race organised by the Jade Emperor. In preparation for this, they asked two creative partners, StudioAnti and Washio Tomoyuki, to create trainer designs inspired by this creature. The result is two streetwise styles: one influenced by the rough-and-ready ally cat and the other based on a make-believe world where cats are bigger than humans. Both creatives worked on the Onitsuka Tiger X-Caliber model and the outcome could not be any different. While the Studio Anti sneaker is very clean, Washio Tomoyuki added a bold all-over graphic to the sneakers. Both colorways are being released at Onitsuka Tiger dealers this month.

More detailed images and a dealer list follow after the jump.

After previously working with Wood Wood on the X-Caliber, Onitsuka Tiger now got together with Azita. The German boutique chose to work with black, grey and yellow on the running shoe. It comes with a fading effect on the side-panels and a mix of suede and mesh on the upper. The mid-sole, as well as other details come in a strong yellow. The sneaker will be released on November 28th at premium retailers, including Sneakersnstuff, and will come with matching socks.

Detailed images of the Onitsuka Tiger x Azita X-Caliber follow after the jump.

After Wood Wood, Frankfurt’s Azita store is next to work with Onitsuka Tiger on the X-Caliber GT running shoe. The sneaker comes with a black upper and yellow accents. The video above gives a good first look at the sneaker. Unfortunately the promo video is in German.

Look out for a release of the sneaker at Azita Frankfurt this coming Thursday, October 22nd, with the sneakers hitting their online store at 4pm CET.

Tokidoki were one of the first to do a legit LeSportSac collab, and although the aesthetic is very Hello Kitty, these dudes reside in Italy. An interesting establishment. Now they’re working with Onitsuka Tiger on the mid cut Fabre sneaker. Tokidoki’s signature characters adorn every facet of these from the sole to the lining and everywhere in between. Take this as a “wider look at the market”. We would never wear these. But hey, for a certain someone? These may be the kicks you’ve been waiting for. Spotted at ripe.