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The story
A thread titled “I don’t have shoes for rainy days,” posted on 5ch’s Hello! Project board, sparked a wide-ranging discussion about what to wear on wet-weather days. Solutions varied widely: some just spray waterproofing on their everyday sneakers, others keep stylish rain boots or Gore-Tex-equipped boots on standby, and still others simply don’t mind sandals getting wet. The question of how office workers handle rainy days also stirred debate, pitting those who say people still commute in leather shoes against those who insist sneaker commuting, even with a suit, is now the norm — highlighting just how varied people’s approaches to rainy-day footwear really are.
What people said
Settling for "rain shoes" on a rainy day just isn't stylish.
For women's sizes, Converse works too.
waterproof spray should do the trick.
they dry out even after getting wet.
You can't wear leather shoes in the rain, right?
You can, actually.
Where'd you even hear that?
There are Gore-Tex models and all sorts of other options.
These days people wear sneakers even with a suit.
Even guys working in Marunouchi or Otemachi (Tokyo's business districts) do it.
The Health Ministry even recommends it.
The textbook says letting leather get wet is a cardinal sin.
What, you running a marathon in a downpour or something?
A little dampness isn't a problem at all.
Nobody cares what shoes you've got on when it's raining, so staying dry is all that matters.
the ones Minami Takahashi (former AKB48 member) does the ads for.
they've got decent waterproofing too.
with real leather shoes you've gotta wipe them down and dry them out, right?
They're cheap, handle small puddles fine, and best of all, the inside stays dry.
Soggy socks in winter are the worst.
Same here.
Though as long as it's still this warm, I just go barefoot in sandals.
Rain's just water.
As long as you watch your wallet and phone, and you've got an umbrella, it's no big deal.
If anything, it's nice that fewer people are out.
φ(･ω･｀) (jotting that down) — good one.
Do the barefoot-sandal people wash both their sandals and their feet every time they get home?
I bought some on Amazon just recently.
Background and key points of this topic
This thread appeared on 5ch’s Hello! Project board (a chat board for idol fans), and despite having nothing to do with idols, it centered on the everyday hassle of what to wear on your feet when it rains. The main point of contention was rainy-day commuting style: one camp insisted office workers still commute in leather shoes even in the rain, while another argued that commuting in sneakers, even with a suit on, is now the norm. One post claims the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry even recommends this, but that’s just one poster’s opinion within the thread, not something backed by any cited official source, so it’s worth taking with a grain of salt. Meanwhile, several posters mentioned swearing by Workman’s waterproof boots and sneakers, suggesting the budget workwear brand is becoming a go-to for everyday rain gear. Solutions ranged from those who just spray on waterproofing, to those who keep stylish rain boots or Gore-Tex boots on hand, to those who don’t mind sandals getting wet — likely because, like carrying an umbrella, this is one of those minor everyday annoyances that’s not quite worth fully preparing for, yet still mildly bothersome.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “I Don’t Have Shoes for Rainy Days lol.”
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