Clareto Monsorate

DUBAI: NBA player Rui Hachimura hasn’t forgotten his roots. With a Japanese mother and a father from Benin in Africa, the Japanese professional basketball player, who represents the Washington Wizards in the National Basketball Association, has done something extraordinary. 

Hachimura’s Air Jordan 34 “Heritage” PE salutes his parents’ roots. On the right shoe, a pink and light-blue print features cherry blossoms in stark contrast with billowing clouds, inspired by Hachimura’s Japanese mother Makiko.  

The right shoe uses a vibrant mix of patterns and colors drawn from Benin, the birthplace of Hachimura’s father Zakari Jabil.  

The rest of the shoe is dressed up in a crisp mix of white and black, completed with a kanji-style graphic. 

“Japan has its own culture, colors, materials and prints, and so does Africa,” said Hachimura in a press release.

“The right shoe has unique characters, and the upper material feels like Japanese paper or washi. The logo was created by my mom. The left shoe has colors and prints inspired by Benin, which are bright, loud and composed.” 

Hachimura’s Air Jordan 34 “Heritage” PE will release exclusively via Nike’s Japanese channels on August 8. 

The MSRP is set at ¥20,700 Japanese yen or $195 USD.