A Day for Shoelaces!

Today, and September 21st annually, is Shoelace Day 靴ひもの日 also known as Caterpyrun Day キャタピランの日, in Japan. Caterpyrun are a specific type of shoelace that are designed with elasticity to make shoes easy to slip on and off.

The anniversary was created by a Tokyo-based lifestyle goods company Twins Co. Ltd, who invented the innovative Caterpyrun laces. They chose the date as a wordplay on September 21st, 9/21, which can be read "Ku (9) tsu (2) himo (1)", the Japanese for shoelaces. 

Caterpyrun, named for the resemblance to caterpillars, were originally developed with sports and active lifestyles in mind. But they have found a wider audience, because shoes that slip on and off are particularly useful in Japan due to the custom of removing your shoes indoors.