Specialty sock brand Kutsushitaya, operated by Tabio Co., Ltd., is launching a collaboration sock collection with Narumiya International's brands ANGEL BLUE and mezzo piano starting Friday, May 1st. The collection will be available at 149 Kutsushitaya stores nationwide and the Tabio official online store, marking the first-ever collaboration between these brands.
Background: The Heisei Retro Boom
These two Narumiya brands have been drawing renewed attention as part of the ongoing "Heisei retro" trend, which has gained traction even among Generation Z. The first permanent shop dedicated to Narumiya character goods — "NARUMIYA HAPPY PARK" — opened at Lumine Est Shinjuku in September 2025, giving wider audiences a chance to reconnect with these icons. A second location opened in Saitama in March of this year, with a third planned for Lucua South in Osaka in autumn 2026. Many of today's parents were fans as elementary and middle school students back in the day, and this collaboration was conceived for both longtime fans and a new generation of admirers to enjoy together.
Product Lineup
The collection features two styles, each available in four patterns, for a total of eight items. Both are crew-length socks that reach around the calf. They come in one size fitting 22.5cm–24.5cm feet.
Narumiya Characters Border Embroidery Midi-Length Socks — ¥1,980 (tax included)
A one-point character face embroidery is combined with a border stripe design to bring together the worlds of Narumiya International and Kutsushitaya in a playful, upbeat style.
- ANGEL BLUE collaboration: Nakamura-kun and Hana-chan (2 patterns)
- mezzo piano collaboration: Beri-chan and Devily-chan (2 patterns)
Narumiya Characters All-Over Pattern Socks — ¥1,760 (tax included)
Each character's face covers the sock in an all-over pattern, with small motifs like cherries, stars, and hearts woven in to reflect each brand's aesthetic.
- ANGEL BLUE collaboration: Nakamura-kun and Hana-chan (2 patterns)
- mezzo piano collaboration: Beri-chan and Devily-chan (2 patterns)
Limited Novelty Campaign
Customers who purchase one or more collaboration items totaling ¥2,750 or more (tax included) at the Tabio official online store or participating stores will receive a limited-edition original acrylic keychain as a first-come, first-served gift while supplies last. The keychain comes in four types — Nakamura-kun, Hana-chan, Beri-chan, and Devily-chan — each paired with a miniature version of their respective all-over pattern sock. Character type is distributed at random.
Release date: May 1, 2026 (Friday)
Available at: Tabio Official Online Store and 149 Kutsushitaya stores nationwide
