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Jordan Brand is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s first visit to Japan with a new Air Jordan 12 inspired by the country’s rich sumo culture.
The Air Jordan 12 “Sumo” pays tribute to the 1996 Nike Hoop Heroes Tour, which brought Jordan and a collection of NBA stars to Japan. One of the tour’s more memorable moments was a game of basketball between NBA players and sumo wrestlers, with Jordan serving as the referee while wearing the original Air Jordan 12 “Taxi.”
The new colorway also builds on the Air Jordan 12’s longstanding connection to Japanese design. Tinker Hatfield famously drew inspiration from the controversial Rising Sun flag when creating the original AJ12, incorporating its radiating pattern into the shoe’s upper.
For the “Sumo,” that connection is reinterpreted through a Black leather upper featuring a laser-etched wave pattern inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Night Purple overlays provide contrast, while Metallic Gold accents appear throughout the shoe.
The Japanese influence continues through the branding. The heel features “Air Jordan” lettering styled after a traditional senjafuda name plaque, while the tongue is embroidered with “二十三,” translating to “23” in Japanese. A crest-inspired Jumpman appears on the tongue, and subtle Metallic Gold speckling adds detail to the midsole.
The packaging gets its own Japan-specific treatment as well. The shoe comes wrapped in paper highlighting statistics and notable performances from Jordan’s 1995-96 season, while a Jumpman-themed paper sumo kit adds another playful nod to the inspiration behind the release.
Jordan Brand is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s first visit to Japan with a new Air Jordan 12 inspired by the country’s rich sumo culture.
The Air Jordan 12 “Sumo” pays tribute to the 1996 Nike Hoop Heroes Tour, which brought Jordan and a collection of NBA stars to Japan. One of the tour’s more memorable moments was a game of HORSE between NBA players and sumo wrestlers, with Jordan serving as the referee while wearing the original Air Jordan 12 “Taxi.”
The new colorway also builds on the Air Jordan 12’s longstanding connection to Japanese design. Tinker Hatfield famously drew inspiration from the controversial Rising Sun flag when creating the original AJ12, incorporating its radiating pattern into the shoe’s design.
For the “Sumo,” that connection is reinterpreted through a Black leather upper featuring a laser-etched wave pattern inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Night Purple overlays provide contrast, while Metallic Gold accents appear throughout the shoe.
The Japanese influence continues through the branding. The heel features “Air Jordan” lettering styled after a traditional senjafuda name plaque, while the tongue is embroidered with “二十三,” translating to “23” in Japanese. A crest-inspired Jumpman appears on the tongue, and subtle Gold speckling adds detail to the midsole.
The packaging gets its own Japan-specific treatment as well. The shoe comes wrapped in paper highlighting statistics and notable performances from Jordan’s 1995-96 season, while a Jumpman-themed paper sumo kit adds another playful nod to the inspiration behind the release.
The Air Jordan 12 “Sumo” drops August 23rd exclusively in Japan, with availability at select retailers such as atmos. Check them out below.
Air Jordan 12 “Sumo”
Color: Black/Night Purple-Metallic Gold-White
Style Code: IW1218-098
Release Date: August 23, 2026 (Japan)
Price: $215 USD
