Shoe Dog: 2. 1962 Summary & Analysis

One evening, Knight works up the courage to talk to his father, Bill, about his Crazy Idea. The idea itself is something Knight came up with as a research project for one of his classes at Stanford. As a runner, Knight always had an interest in athletic shoes, so he studied the shoe market. His research led him to believe that Japanese shoe companies could make a major splash in the American market. When Knight presented his hypothesis to his class, they seemed bored. However, his professor approved of the project and thought he was onto something.

Now, Knight hopes to travel the world for some time, making Japan one of his many stops. While in Japan, he plans to meet with Japanese shoe companies and pitch his idea to them. Although he knows his plan is a long shot, he also wants to immerse himself in the various cultures he visits, so even if the Japan trip fails, it will still be a valuable life experience. However, there is one major roadblock standing in his way: money.

To go on the trip, Knight will need money from Bill. Although Bill is a lawyer and makes decent money, he is not rich, so Knight worries Bill might be wary about financing Knight’s idea. Knight is also unsure how his family will take his ideas about international travel. At this point in American history, most people have never been on an airplane, and even fewer have flown internationally. On top of everything else, Knight knows that Bill admires what he calls “respectability” above all else, and starting a company that is likely to fail is not a good way of becoming respectable.

When Knight presents his idea to Bill, Bill’s reaction is mixed. Although he does not approve of the business half of the idea, he does approve of the travel, calling it “a finishing touch to [Knight’s] education.” Ultimately, Bill gives Knight the blessing and the money he asks for. 

Although Bill is supportive, the rest of the family is less sure. In particular, they are wary of Japan, which the United States defeated in World War II just over a decade before. World War II was a memorable part of Knight’s childhood, as every adult in his family was glued to the radio, waiting to hear updates about the war. In particular, the updates regarding the Japanese were rarely good for Americans early in America’s involvement in the war. Japan won many decisive victories before America finally turned the tide.

Leading up to the trip, Knight spends all his time reading up on where he will go. Before consulting with Bill, Knight also convinces his friend, Carter, to come with him. Carter and Knight both went to Stanford, and Carter is thrilled when Knight suggests traveling together. Then, on September 7, 1962, the trip begins. The first stop is Honolulu; the plane ticket costs $80 for a one-way trip.

Knight and Carter land in the Oahu Airport and immediately fall in love with Hawaii. They check into a motel near Waikiki Beach and then go swimming. Because they like the area so much, Knight and Carter decide to get jobs and stay for a while before continuing their travels. They find work as door-to-door encyclopedia salesmen, which is not great work, but it pays their bills.

Although Knight loves his time in Hawaii, he quickly discovers he is a terrible salesman. Knight is naturally shy, and encyclopedias in particular do not interest him and prove difficult to sell. As such, he starts looking for another job. Eventually, he finds one as a securities salesman.

Knight quickly finds he is much better at selling securities than encyclopedias. Although his rhetoric and delivery could use some work, he knows his stuff because of his time at Stanford. Knight quickly makes enough money to stay in Hawaii as long as he wants. He spends his cash living life to the fullest and soaking up Hawaii’s beauty. Knight thinks that part of the reason he had such a feeling of “carpe diem” during this time is because nuclear tensions were at an all-time high just months before. 1962 was the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and there were genuine fears that civilization could come to an end.

Despite Knight’s love for Hawaii, he eventually decides it must come to an end. However, when he tells Carter he is ready to move on, Carter decides he doesn’t want to leave. Carter met a woman in Hawaii and wants to stay with her instead. Knight is disappointed, but he understands. Still, he does not let this setback stop him. He bids Carter farewell, and on Thanksgiving Day, 1962, the next leg of his trip begins.

Knight gets on a flight headed to Japan. While on the flight, he starts to doubt his idea, worrying what the Japanese will think of Americans and wondering if they will ever accept his idea. However, he is already committed to his decision; there is no turning back now. When Knight arrives in Tokyo, he sees the devastation from World War II and thinks about how horrible it must have been.

Shortly after settling in Tokyo, Knight meets up with some American businessmen who are friends with Bill. They show him around and give him suggestions about what to do while in Japan. Knight also tells the businessmen about his Crazy Idea. Although they give Knight an eye role, they also provide him with contacts that might be useful.

After his meeting with the American businessmen, Knight starts exploring Japan and immersing himself in the culture. In particular, he is interested in Japan’s dominant religions, Buddhism and Shinto. He learns about the Japanese concepts of enlightenment and studies Zen, which claims, “Self is a mirage, a fever dream, and our stubborn belief in its reality not only wastes life but shortens it.” Knight contrasts the teachings of Zen with the most anti-Zen spot in Japan: The Tokyo Stock Exchange. There, he sees men who are self-obsessed and care only about money. Knight knows that there is more to life than the men at the Tokyo Stock Exchange seem to think and takes the teachings of Zen to heart.

After seeing more landmarks and reading more, Knight decides it is time to pursue his Crazy Idea. He meets with the contacts the American businessmen gave him and tells them about his idea. The contacts are encouraging, though they tell Knight he must learn the customs of Japanese businessmen.

The contacts warn Knight not to be pushy because Japanese businessmen do not respond well to such behavior. Additionally, they tell Knight that he is unlikely to receive an offer right off the bat or know how well he did in the meeting. Only later, when he hears back, will he know if he was successful. Knight appreciates the advice but worries about whether he can pull off his pitch. The next day, he plans to meet with executives from Onitsuka Tiger, a Japanese shoe company.

Knight tries to hype himself up but remains nervous about the meeting. The following day, he heads to the Onitsuka showroom—where he thinks his meeting will take place—only to discover he has gone to the wrong spot. Quickly, he rushes across town to the Onitsuka factory and arrives a half hour late. Despite his tardiness, some executives meet with Knight and show him around the factory. Knight enjoys the tour but has no idea whether to be impressed.

After the tour, the executives take Knight to a meeting room. They seat Knight at the head of the table and indicate that he should start his pitch. Before he begins talking, Knight does his best to calm himself. As he looks around the room, he cannot help but feel the presence of the recent history between the United States and Japan. He knows Japan is still reeling from its defeat in World War II, which likely impacted everyone in the room. However, Knight also sees that the Japanese businessmen are young like him and do not appear to be thinking about the war at all. Knight decides that if the Japanese businessmen wish to keep the war in the past, then he should as well.

Before Knight can start his speech, one of the businessmen asks him the name of his company. Knight does not have a company, so he makes one up on the fly: “Blue Ribbon Sports of Portland, Oregon.” From there, Knight gives the same presentation he gave to his class at Stanford. However, his Japanese audience receives the idea much better than his college peers did. After Knight finishes his presentation, the businessmen get up and start talking to one another excitedly. Then, they leave the room to consult privately. A few minutes later, the businessmen return, and their leader, Mr. Miyazaki, tells Knight they have been hoping to do exactly what Knight is pitching. Then, Miyazaki asks Knight if Blue Ribbon would represent Tiger shoes in America. Knight tells Miyazaki he can and then asks that he ship fifty dollars’ worth of shoes to Portland.

Knight is overjoyed but decides to keep traveling before returning to Portland. He travels to Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Turkey, among other places. Knight does his best to see important landmarks everywhere he goes and soak up every bit of culture he can. In particular, he pays close attention to the philosophical and religious traditions of the places he travels to and internalizes many of their core teachings. He reads, Rūmī, Dante, Rousseau, Voltaire, and the Upanishads.

Knight also travels to Greece, where he visits the Temple of Athena Nike. Apparently, the temple once contained a frieze of Athena, “thought to be the bringer of ‘nike,’ or victory.” Something about the temple is compelling to Knight, who stands in front of it for a long time. Later in life, Knight discovers that Aristophanes wrote a play set in the Temple of Nike, which contains a scene where a warrior gifts a king a new pair of shoes.

On February 24, 1963, Knight returns home. It is the day of his 25th birthday. When he enters his house, his family hardly recognizes him because he has grown a beard and neglected to cut his hair. Although Knight’s family is eager to talk to him and hear about his travels, Knight’s first order of business when he gets home is to ask whether his shoes arrived.