adidas Kicks Off ‘Made In Germany’ Range With Predator Mania ‘Japan Blue'

Celebrating 75 years of German craftmanship, adidas have revealed the first drop of its 2024 ‘Made in Germany’ range, and it’s a limited edition rerelease of the Predator Mania ‘Japan Blue’.

The Predator Mania 'Japan Blue' edition was worn by adidas-contracted Japan players at the 2002 World Cup, which they co-hosted with South Korea. It was a boot that had an added desirability factor due to its rarity in Europe, and as such has gone on to achieve cult status. Now, it’s the first release of what Adidas are calling their ‘Made in Germany’ range: a series of limited edition Predator boots to be made in Scheinfeld this year.

For those thinking you’ve got a case of deja vu, that’ll be because the ‘Japan Blue’ reappeared on our collective radars back in 2020 under the ‘Tormentor’ guise. Like that boot, this latest rerelease boasts the same aesthetic as the originals, but with the re-engineered outsole of the current Predator model – in this case the Predator 24 – to ensure peak performance without sacrificing the iconic look. As a final nod to adidas expert craftmanship, the classic red tongue is adorned with a ‘Made in Germany’ sign-off.

The Predator Mania Japan marks the start of several upcoming drops to be crafted in adidas’ historic Scheinfeld factory, located a short distance from the brand’s Bavarian HQ in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Having originally been opened by Adi Dassler in 1959, Scheinfeld has been responsible for putting genre-defining performance footwear on some of the game’s greatest ever athletes, as well as millions of fans around the world.

The production team at Scheinfeld have been at the heart of its operations for 75 years, which is why adidas is putting members of the current team at the centre of its marketing campaign for the Made in Germany range. In a series of pictures and videos, adidas shines a light on these individuals’ meticulous work and their unending passion to produce some of the greatest football boots in history.

Sam Handy, SVP of Product and Design at adidas, said, “For 75 years, the adidas factory in Scheinfeld has been a cornerstone of our commitment to quality and innovation. It felt right to mark this important anniversary by shining a light on some of the men and women who are so crucial to creating boots that have graced the feet of legends and fuelled history-making moments on the pitch.

“We’re excited to mark the start of our Made in Germany collection by bringing back one of our most beloved models from the history of the Predator franchise, the Predator Mania Japan Blue.”