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Other product manufacturing and processing workers (except metal products)

How to become a Shoemaker

Also called: Leather shoe maker, Leather cutter, Leather sandal maker

Designs leather shoes, makes patterns for the parts, cuts and sews leather, lasts and attaches soles, and finishes the shoes.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. For design work, it can help to have studied design at high school or a senmon gakko (vocational college), or to know how to use CAD. After joining, you usually learn simple tasks first and gradually move on to work that needs more skill. You build knowledge and skills through one-to-one guidance from senior workers. Some customers want high-value products, and highly skilled workers who have mastered many techniques are well regarded. You can also set up on your own, making original shoes such as made-to-order designs that focus on style. Loving making things and having good hand skills are important. You also need the concentration and persistence to keep at steady, detailed work.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Shoemaker?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. For design work, it can help to have studied design at high school or a senmon gakko (vocational college), or to know how to use CAD. After joining, you usually learn simple tasks first and gradually move on to work that needs more skill. You build knowledge and skills through one-to-one guidance from senior workers. Some customers want high-value products, and highly skilled workers who have mastered many techniques are well regarded. You can also set up on your own, making original shoes such as made-to-order designs that focus on style. Loving making things and having good hand skills are important. You also need the concentration and persistence to keep at steady, detailed work.

How much does a Shoemaker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,105,900 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other product manufacturing and processing workers (except metal products), which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Shoemaker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 19% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Shoemaker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026