Breaking Down the Differences: Air Jordan 5 ‘Tokyo’ 2025 vs 2011
The ‘Tokyo’ is one of those unicorns that can turn entire timelines yellow. Dropping in 2011, the colourway was cooked up to celebrate the Jordan Tokyo 23 basketball tournament in Yoyogi Park.
For years, the story got twisted – plenty swore the shoe marked the opening of the Jordan Tokyo 23 concept store in Shibuya. The truth? It’s probably best understood as both. The drop bottled the electricity of the tournament and the buzz of the temporary flagship, tying two fleeting moments together in one grail that never hung around long enough to be anything but legend.
The colourway was unforgettable: bold ‘Varsity Maize’ suede uppers, ‘Wolf Grey’ accents, a black midsole with speckled shark teeth, and the standout kanji-style ‘23’ logo stitched on the lateral heel – a direct nod to Tokyo’s ward insignia. And here's a tidbit that even seasoned collectors sometimes miss: if you take a closer look at the negative space around the kanji, you’ll spot the number 23 hiding in plain sight. Once you see it, you’ll never look at the AJ5 'Tokyo' the same way again!
Fast-forward 14 years, and Jordan Brand have finally cracked the vault open for the AJ5’s 35th anniversary. However – like it or not – this isn’t a carbon copy. Let’s break down exactly how the 2011 OG stacks up against the 2025 retro.
What’s Changed
The retro introduces a yellow toe wrap, a design detail that actually harks back to an unreleased 2011 sample. Another detail is found out back: the matte black paint on the midsole heel. On the OG, the finish had a slight gloss that caught light, whereas the 2025 treatment is more muted, dialled-down to a flatter tone. Then there are the shark teeth – the OG splatter was heavy and irregular, giving them a sharper, grittier edge, while the 2025 application is lighter, less busy, and overall cleaner. It’s a small adjustment, but for eagle-eyed collectors it’s another tell that separates retro from original.
Branding Fidelity
Both versions carry the hallmarks that make the 'Tokyo' instantly recognisable: the reflective silver 3M tongue with its black Jumpman, the Jumpman stitched at the heel, and of course the kanji-style ‘23’ embroidery on the lateral heel.
That said, the embroidery itself has evolved. On the 2011 OG, the kanji stitching was thicker and more weighty, with a chunkier presence against the ‘Varsity Maize’ suede. The 2025 retro executes the logo with cleaner, finer embroidery, giving it a sharper, more precise finish. For some, that refinement is an upgrade. For purists, it’s another subtle tell that separates OG from retro.
What Stayed the Same
In nearly every other respect, the recipe stays faithful. Both pairs feature the legendary bold yellow suede uppers, metallic silver 3M tongues with black Jumpman logos, grey netting and eyelets, black laces, and Jumpman branding stitched into the heel. The lateral kanji-style ‘23’ remains the defining detail, directly linking the shoe back to the Tokyo 23 activation that birthed it. For purists, this fidelity keeps the spirit of the OG intact.
The Verdict
So does the retro live up to the legend? The answer depends on how tightly you cling to mythology. The 2011 ‘Tokyo’ will always be the original unicorn, a shoe tied to time and place in a way no retro can truly replicate. The 2025 version, however, does something equally important: it opens the Tokyo story up to a new wave of sneakerheads while nodding to the deepest corners of collector lore. For diehards, the 2011 remains untouchable. For everyone else, the 2025 delivers the legend without the resale price pain.
Can't wait to sink your toes into the Air Jordan 5 'Tokyo'? Make sure to check out our