With each passing year, the Setsubun commemorates the beginning of Spring in the old Japanese calendar. The annual festival is meant to rid of all bad fortune and spirits from the previous year. Often referred to as the “Bean-Throwing Festival,” Setsubun festivities include tossing roasted soybeans out of your door or towards relatives adorned in demon masks. Though we are well past this year’s Setsubun, Nike moves forward with their release of a Dunk Low honoring this annual tradition.
Have a Look at Each Dunk in Nike’s Upcoming ‘Fruity Pack’
Nike does their best to capture the essence of Setsubun in the shoe’s details. Embroidered in purple on the lateral heel we see Tsuno Daishi, the Great Horned Master. Daishi is believed to protect from sickness and evil, his horns reimagined with Swooshes here. Further, the insoles feature artwork from Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s “Kintoki Throwing Beans at Fleeing Demon” piece. For the uppers, Nike uses three soybean-like shades of brown on the overlays to commemorate the festival. Double-stacked Swooshes, as well as the interior lining, appear in a vibrant purple shade. Additionally, the toe boxes and quarter panels use a cobblestone-like texture to mimic aging cracks. What appears to be a translucent brown outsole under a white midsole completes the sneaker.
Nike has yet to announce a release date for these kicks, though we anticipate they’ll drop in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out on Nike’s website for an official announcement on the drop. In the meantime, feel free to peruse the official images of the Nike Dunk Low “Setsubun” in the gallery above. Be sure to let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below!
Lastly, Nike Celebrates Jackie Robinson with Special Dunk Low.
