Sharpman
The shoe of champions
![Japanese table tennis shoe advertisement by Koyo Bear displaying the Sharpman Gripper and the Sharpman Nimble](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/6461f17073d9bb0ef926e98d_Koyo-Bear-Sharpman-Gripper-vintage-japanese-ad.webp)
![Table tennis player wearing the Koyo Bear Nimble at national championships in Japan](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/652e8a02356d85b6d5811d24_tabletennisplayer-02.webp)
![Koyo Bear Sharpman Nimble advertisement from 1979](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/652e8a1455c2b0e8556814b6_Koyo-Bear-Sharpman-Nimble-Ad.webp)
Nimble
SHARPMAN Nimble
![1970s basketball shoe advertisement in front of Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (Tōkyō Taiikukan) by Japanese sports shoe brand Koyo Bear.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/645b7c999cc1a55877a68638_Koyo-Bear-Basketball-Shoe-in-front-of-To%CC%84kyo%CC%84-Taiikukan-Tokyo-Metropolitan-Gymnasium.webp)
1952
Established in 1952 in Kobe, Japan, Koyo Bear is one of Japan’s original sports shoe brands.
![Japanese table tennis magazine from 1972.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/64620678c700566da567d74f_Table-Tennis-Report-1972-5-Cover-Sharpman-Koyo-Bear.webp)
![American table tennis player Glenn Cowan visiting China in 1971 during the Ping Pong Diplomacy days](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/646206f7205824415cf4ff35_Glenn-Cowan-visiting-China-Ping-Pong-Diplomacy-wearing-Koyo-Bear-Sharpman-CROP.webp)
![Hans Alser and Kjell Johansson on a Koyo Bear Sharpman advertisement](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/645b7c999cc1a5300ca685eb_Hans-Alser-Kjell-Johansson-Koyo-Bear-Sharpman-Advertisement-German.webp)
Ichiro
Ogimura
Japanese table tennis legend, Ping Pong Diplomat, and creator of one of Koyo Bear’s classics, the Sharpman.
![Japanese table tennis legend Ichiro Ogimura](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645b7c999cc1a56861a685aa/645b7c999cc1a51978a6862e_Ichiro-Ogimura-Portrait.webp)