Shoe repair prices in Tokyo have risen by more than 30% over the last five years as the cost of adhesives spikes [1].

This trend threatens the viability of small craft businesses and increases the cost of living for consumers who prefer repairing goods over buying new ones. The price surge is directly linked to the volatility of raw material costs tied to global energy markets.

Adhesive prices have climbed 60% since April 2024 [1]. This increase is attributed to the worsening situation in the Middle East, specifically Iran, which has pushed up the prices of crude oil and naphtha, the primary raw materials used in the production of adhesives [1], [2], [3].

In Tokyo, the average cost for shoe repair reached 1,669 yen last month [1]. Many shops, including established manufacturers in Sumida Ward, are struggling to absorb these costs without passing them on to the customer [1], [2].

Ryosuke Otomo of Kutsu Senka said he has been in the industry for a long time, but has rarely experienced materials skyrocketing for these specific reasons.

Small business owners report that the supply shortage and price hikes have created an unstable environment for pricing services. While some shops have attempted to maintain old rates, the scale of the raw material increase has made that unsustainable [1], [2].

“Shoe repair prices in Tokyo have risen by more than 30% over the last five years”

The situation illustrates how niche craft industries are vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. Because adhesives rely on naphtha, a petroleum derivative, the shoe repair sector serves as a micro-indicator of how instability in the Middle East translates into direct consumer inflation in East Asia.