The Air Jordan 12 "Sumo" Releases August 2026 Exclusively in Japan

Jordan Brand is reaching back to a specific moment in Michael Jordan's history with Japan for the Air Jordan 12 "Sumo," a colorway built around his 1996 visit to the country. During that trip, MJ famously spent time on the court with sumo wrestlers while wearing the Air Jordan 12, and that session now serves as the direct inspiration for this Japan-exclusive release.

The shoe arrives in a Black leather upper with laser-etched wave graphics running across the surface and Night Purple overlays adding depth to the build. Metallic Gold details appear throughout, including light speckling around the midsole. The tongue's Jumpman logo has been reworked to reference a traditional Japanese family crest, and below it sits "二十三" stitched in Purple, translating to "23." The heel carries branding styled after senjafuda, the small name plaques associated with Japanese temples and shrines. Jordan Brand extended the concept to the packaging as well. The box includes custom wrapping paper referencing MJ's 1995-96 regular-season stats and a Jumpman paper sumo kit that ties directly back to the story behind the colorway.