As announced on Instagram, we're happy to share that TACHINO CHIE will be joining Lounge Sai as a newly available brand.

To start, we'll be holding a pre-order event in Kawasaki on May 9–11, with Tachino herself in attendance.

The following weekend, May 15–18, we'll also be holding a pre-order event in Osaka, so we hope you'll be able to join us if your schedule allows.

*Added May 19: We've decided, rather suddenly, that for two days, May 24–25, at a select shop in Shizuoka City calledacacia, we'll also be holding an event.(Event details at the bottom of this article)

 

 

 

Now, I imagine quite a few of our customers looked the brand up out of curiosity when we posted about it on Instagram, but this time we'd like to properly introduce a piece from TACHINO CHIE called GUJI.

In shape, GUJI is a mule.

Calling it a "mule" makes it sound oddly chic, but in my mind it's more of a casual piece — something to just slip on for spring and summer, or simply call a "sandal."

 

As the brand to trust with our feet for the coming season, we've chosen TACHINO CHIE.

TACHINO CHIE has other items besides this sandal, but the first one we want to introduce at this point is GUJI.

I first saw a TACHINO CHIE piece in the fall of 2023.

Before I knew it, a year and a half had passed before I could introduce it.

 

 

For more than the past ten years, I've regularly wornGUIDI ROSELLINI, but when summer comes and I want something a little lighter on my feet, what to wear has been something I've thought about constantly for the past few years.

Of course, Morosino and Orlando, as always, are great too, but I decided this summer was finally the time to bring in the ideal sandal to pair with a laid-back summer look.

 

 

And so, this time, TACHINO CHIE's GUJI.

The reason I chose it: its overwhelming, undeniable beauty of form.

A sandal — the most casual item among all footwear —is, paradoxically, a piece of such intense beauty — flawless from the side, the front, or underneath, with an almost sharp tension to it — that it feels contradictory.

Or rather, it's convincing enough to make you think that it's precisely because it's normally a casual item that it needs beauty this extreme.

The GUJI in the photos is a Porosus crocodile in ink-dyed (sumizome) leather that I ordered for myself.

A photo from when I accompanied a tanner who specializes in exotic leathers, including Porosus and lizard, among others.

 

The ink-dyeing of the Porosus is done by hand by a craftsman.

Each hide is dyed by hand, one at a time.

 

 

And (this isn't limited to the ink-dyed version), the Porosus GUJI uses one whole hide per foot — meaning two hides in total for the pair.

Tachino personally and carefully selects each hide, choosing leather with fine, beautiful grain, and balancing the pair so the individual variation between the two hides isn't too pronounced.

Looking at the finished piece, you'll undoubtedly sense the designer's obsession.

This, I thought, is what breathtaking beauty really means.

 

 

I don't want to casually use a phrase like "a piece for life," but the sigh-inducing beauty of its form and materials makes you wonder, once you've owned this, whether anything more could exist — the kind of piece that naturally makes you feel this might be as good as sandals get.

 

Incidentally, the insole on the original GUJI was beige, but at my request it was changed to black.

The material is chrome-tanned deerskin.

The change wasn't purely a matter of personal taste in looks — I was worried that with a beige insole, dirt or dark scuff marks from long-term wear would definitely bother me.

Black really doesn't show dirt, so I think it was the right call.

This time I chose the ink-dyed Porosus for myself, but other leathers will also be available to order at the event.

The lineup is as follows.

 

Leather

Kip| Black
Suede| Dark Brown
Grained Leather| Black
Guidi Smooth Leather| Black

 

Lizard

Matte - Black
Nubuck| Indigo, Black, Dark Brown

 

Porosus

Matte| Black, Oak
Nubuck| Black
Ink-dyed (sumizome)

 

Sizing, including women's, is also available in a wide range for order.

 

Also, at Tachino's suggestion, a sample was made in Guidi smooth leather for GUJI for the first time, and orders for it will be accepted starting with the event on the 9th.

As of writing this article, I myself haven't yet seen the actual Guidi leather sample in person, but here's an excerpt from Tachino's Instagram.

 

unveiled
grainy GUJI

Just like the classic GUJI so far, it luxuriously runs seamlessly from the outer to the inner leather with no stitching, giving it a wonderful feel.

The edge and outsole finish of the grainy GUJI gives each individual pair its own rich character, intertwining beautifully with the appealing individual variation of GUIDI leather to elevate it into a single, unified form.

I imagine the shading, sheen, and creases that deepen with every wear — unique to GUIDI leather — will nurture a beauty that becomes special to whoever wears it.

Even from the photos, you can sense the supple, soft-looking texture with that characteristic oiliness that only Guidi leather has.

It really makes me look forward to seeing the real thing.

 

 

 

My own first pair only just arrived the other day, but as soon as I put it on, I was convinced I'd be adding a second and third pair in different materials — it's going to become a staple for me going forward.

Quietly and gently, at the feet of clothes with a strong handmade feel and rich texture, adecadently beautiful GUJI.

It's the ultimate combination.

 

 

As for which leather I'll add next,I'd like to agonize over that again together with everyone at the pre-order event while looking at the samples.

 

 

Now, here are the event details.

 

TACHINO CHIE - GUJI ORDER EVENT

• May 9–11, 2025, 12:00–18:00
  
  
• 3F Chateau Blanc Kajigaya, 1-8-13 Suenaga, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa
  
  30 seconds on foot from Kajigaya Station (up the outdoor stairs next to Doutor Coffee to the 3rd floor)

 

• May 16–18, 2025, 12:00–19:00 (until 18:00 on the last day)
  
  
• Itachibori Building, 1-5-2 Itachibori, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
  
  3 minutes on foot from Hommachi Station

 

• May 24–25, 2025, 12:00–19:00
  
  
• KADO 2F, 2-5-22 Hitoyado-cho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka

 

 

The GUJI pre-order will be the main focus, but we'll also have DseconD and Aviva Jifei Xue's SS25 collections available.

We truly look forward to seeing you there.