An upper for fitting, to an instep of a foot, a flexible member covering at least a portion of the instep, the upper comprising: a medial side portion covering a medial side surface of the instep; a lateral side portion covering a lateral side surface of the instep; a flexible member, which is flexible, covering at least a portion of the instep in the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion; at least one reinforcement member having a greater rigidity than the flexible member, at least a lower half portion 39 of the reinforcement member attached to a surface of the flexible member in the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion, wherein the at least one reinforcement member includes a plurality of upper end portions spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the foot, and a through hole passing through the reinforcement member is defined in each of the upper end portions in a normal direction with respect to a surface of the reinforcement member; a cord provided along a central edge portion of the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion, the cord inserted through the through holes of the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion and placed along the longitudinal direction, wherein portions of the cord include exposed areas which are placed exposed; and a shoelace for engaging with the cord in the exposed areas in a transverse direction of the foot so as to bring the medial side portion and the lateral side portion closer to each other, wherein each of the upper end portions of the at least one reinforcement member is attached to the flexible member in one of a fore portion and a rear portion, and is set to be un-attached to the flexible member in another one of the fore portion and the rear portion. a medial side portion covering a medial side surface of the instep; a lateral side portion covering a lateral side surface of the instep; a flexible member, which is flexible, covering at least a portion of the instep in the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion; at least one reinforcement member having a greater rigidity than the flexible member, at least a lower half portion 39 of the reinforcement member attached to a surface of the flexible member in the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion, wherein the at least one reinforcement member includes a plurality of upper end portions spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the foot, and a through hole passing through the reinforcement member is defined in each of the upper end portions in a normal direction with respect to a surface of the reinforcement member; a cord provided along a central edge portion of the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion, the cord inserted through the through holes of the medial side portion and/or the lateral side portion and placed along the longitudinal direction, wherein portions of the cord include exposed areas which are placed exposed; and a shoelace for engaging with the cord in the exposed areas in a transverse direction of the foot so as to bring the medial side portion and the lateral side portion closer to each other, wherein each of the upper end portions of the at least one reinforcement member is attached to the flexible member in one of a fore portion and a rear portion, and is set to be un-attached to the flexible member in another one of the fore portion and the rear portion.