Alfred Sargent chasse and Japanese market

[Guest]

My tendency to fixate is between my psychiatrist and me, but I never got over my longing for chasse shoes, and in fact I have been looking for a black one to add to my collection.

Lo and behold, despite Pediwear's and Alfred Sargent's protests to the contrary, here is an AS chasse with rubber sole:

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/aluk/439270/737722/

They (like Trickers) have a chasse model but not with rubber or double sole, readily available. But here is precisely the model I sought.

This raises a few questions in my mind. Why is there a model available in Japan but not readily available in the UK? If you look at the same page, you will see a double-buckle monk from AS that I have never seen, either. Where does one obtain such shoes, models not promoted in the UK but sold in Japan? Are these special orders by Japanese merchants?

[rjman]

David, you are the Steely Dan of the LL shoe forum! You keep on goin'.

There appear to be many special models made for the Japanese market.