adidas Japan vs Tokyo vs Taekwondo: Which Low-Profile adidas to Buy in Canada (2026)

You can buy the adidas Japan, adidas Tokyo and adidas Taekwondo Mei in Canada from Gallery Streetwear, an authorized adidas retailer at 588 Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna, BC, shipping Canada-wide in 1–3 business days with free tracked shipping on orders over $150. All three are low-profile adidas silhouettes, and the differences between them come down to sole thickness, upper material and how much of the foot the shoe actually shows.

Three thin-soled adidas models are on the wall at the same time right now, which does not happen often, so this is a straight comparison rather than a ranking. Shop the adidas collection →

The short version

• adidas Japan — the dressiest of the three. Leather upper, gold-foil branding on the colourways we carry, slightly more sole under the foot than the Tokyo. $160 CAD.
• adidas Tokyo — the sportiest. Nylon-and-suede upper, gum outsole, the most visible retro-runner cues. $120 CAD.
• adidas Taekwondo Mei — the flattest and most stripped-back. Thin cupsole, minimal overlays, closest to a slipper on foot. $120 CAD.

adidas Japan

The Japan belongs to adidas Originals' City Series — the family of low-profile trainers adidas named after cities. It reads as the most formal of the three: a smooth leather upper, a clean toe, and a sole unit that sits just high enough to wear with trousers without looking like a gym shoe.

In stock at the time of writing, all in women's sizing: Earth Strata / Orange Tint / Gold Metallic, Off White / Dusky Bronze, and Black / White. $160 CAD.

adidas Tokyo

Also City Series, and the one that most obviously looks like a 1970s running shoe — nylon panels, suede overlays, a gum outsole and a visible heel tab. It is the most casual of the three and the easiest to wear with shorts.

In stock at the time of writing: Red / Off White / Gum, women's sizing. $120 CAD.

adidas Taekwondo Mei

The Taekwondo Mei is a martial-arts-derived silhouette: a thin cupsole, a narrow last, and almost no overlay structure on the upper. It sits lowest to the ground of the three and has the least shoe on the foot — which is the whole appeal, and also the reason it suits a narrower foot better than a wide one.

In stock at the time of writing: Black / White, women's sizing. $120 CAD.

What else is on the adidas wall

If none of the three is the shape you want, the rest of the adidas range at Gallery right now includes the Samba OG in White/Black (men's and women's, $130), the Handball Spezial in White/Red/Gum ($140) and the Handball Spezial Loafer in Magic Beige ($150), the Superstar II Ripple in Black ($140), the Adistar Control 5 ($140) and the Samba Jane ($130). See the full adidas collection, or the wider Premium Sneakers & Shoes range for New Balance, On, Saucony, Clarks Originals and Last Resort AB.

Women's footwear across all brands lives here: Women's Footwear.

Sizing

adidas publishes its core lifestyle models as true to size, so your usual adidas size is the right starting point on all three. We do not apply a blanket “size up” or “size down” rule, and the widely repeated advice to size down half a size in Sambas appears nowhere in adidas' own guidance. The one real variable here is width: the Taekwondo Mei and the Japan are cut narrower than the Tokyo, so a wide foot is better served by the Tokyo or the Samba. See our size guide for how to measure, or call the shop and we will check the last for you.

Buying in Canada

Gallery Streetwear is an authorized Canadian adidas retailer. Everything is current-season stock held in Kelowna, shipped within Canada in 1–3 business days with free tracked shipping over $150 CAD and no cross-border duty. Customers in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal order the same range that hangs on the floor downtown.

In Kelowna, the shoe wall is at 588 Bernard Avenue, open Tuesday to Saturday 11am–6pm and Sunday to Monday 12–5pm. Call 250-215-1412 to confirm a size before you come down — size runs on these three are short.

FAQ

Where can I buy adidas Japan, Tokyo and Taekwondo in Canada?
From Gallery Streetwear, an authorized adidas retailer at 588 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna BC. All three ship Canada-wide in 1 to 3 business days, with free tracked shipping on orders over $150 CAD and no cross-border duty.

What is the difference between the adidas Japan and the adidas Tokyo?
Both are City Series low-profile trainers. The Japan has a leather upper and a slightly thicker sole, so it reads dressier. The Tokyo uses nylon and suede with a gum outsole and looks more like a 1970s running shoe.

Do adidas Japan and Tokyo run true to size?
Yes. adidas publishes its core lifestyle models as true to size, so your usual adidas size is the right starting point. The Japan and Taekwondo Mei are cut narrower than the Tokyo, so width matters more than length here.

Where can I buy adidas shoes in Kelowna?
At Gallery Streetwear, 588 Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna, BC. The adidas wall carries the Samba OG, Handball Spezial, Superstar II Ripple, Japan, Tokyo and Taekwondo Mei, open seven days a week.