Asics

{{Infobox company

| name = ASICS Corporation

| native_name = 株式会社アシックス

| romanized_name = Kabushiki gaisha Ashikkusu

| logo = Asics Logo.svg

| image = Headquarters of ASICS Corporation.JPG

| image_caption = World headquarters in Kobe, Japan

| image_size = 250px

| type = Public (K.K)

| traded_as = {{Tyo|7936}}

| industry = Sports equipment, textile

| foundation = {{unbulleted list|{{start date and age|1949|09|1}} (as Onitsuka Tiger)|{{start date and age|1977}} (renamed to Asics)}}

| founder = {{ill|Kihachiro Onitsuka|ja|鬼塚喜八郎}}

| location_city = Kobe

| location_country = Japan

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Motoi Oyama (Chairman and CEO){{Cite web |url=https://corp.asics.com/en/investor_relations/management_policy/corporate_governance/compensation-for-officers |title=Compensation For DIRECTORs |accessdate=2024-01-10}}

| locations = ≈ 1,900 outlet stores worldwide (2017){{Cite web |last=Ceballos |first=Francelia Rodriguez |date=February 10, 2017 |others=Translated by Barbara Santamaria |title=Asics opens subsidiaries in Chile and Peru |url=https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/Asics-opens-subsidiaries-in-chile-and-peru,791553.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Fashion Network}}

| products = Trainers, clothing

| revenue = {{gain}} {{JP¥|570.4 billion|link=yes}} (2023)

| operating_income = {{gain}} {{JP¥|54.2 billion}} (2023)

| net_income = {{gain}} {{JP¥|35.2 billion}} (2023)

| assets =

| equity =

| num_employees = ≈ 8,900 (2023)

| parent =

| brands = Onitsuka Tiger

| subsid = {{Unbulleted list|

Race Roster
Runkeeper

}}

| homepage = [https://www.asics.com/ asics.com]

| footnotes =

}}

{{Nihongo|ASICS Corporation|株式会社アシックス|Kabushiki gaisha Ashikkusu|lead=yes}}, commonly known as simply Asics ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|s|ɪ|k|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑː|s|ɪ|k|s}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKfmjQKQhuA "Move your mind to an amazing place"] or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|eɪ|s|ɪ|k|s}}), is a Japanese multinational corporation that produces sportswear. Asics is best known for its sneakers, but also produces other footwear such as sandals, as well as clothing (T-shirts, jackets, hoodies, swimwear, compression garments, leggings, socks) and accessories (bags, backpacks, caps).

The name is an acronym for the Latin phrase anima sana in corpore sano (translated by Asics as "a sound mind, in a sound body"). It is headquartered in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.

History

File:Asics Stripe.jpg

Asics began as Onitsuka Co., Ltd. on September 1, 1949.{{Cite web |title=ASICS Corporation Practical Information |url=https://corp.asics.com/en/about_asics/practical_information |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308133833/https://corp.asics.com/en/about_asics/practical_information |archive-date=2022-03-08 |access-date=2023-08-14 |publisher=ASICS}} Founder {{ill|Kihachiro Onitsuka|ja|鬼塚喜八郎}} began manufacturing basketball shoes in his hometown of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The range of sports activities serviced by the company expanded to a variety of Olympic styles used since the 1950s by athletes worldwide. Onitsuka became particularly known for the Mexico 66 design,{{Cite web|last=Ryall|first=Julian|date=2019-11-02|title=Bruce Lee, Uma Thurman and the story of Onitsuka Tiger shoes|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3035606/onitsuka-tiger-how-bruce-lee-and-actress-uma-thurman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207023622/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3035606/onitsuka-tiger-how-bruce-lee-and-actress-uma-thurman|archive-date=2019-12-07|access-date=2022-06-27|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}} in which the distinctive crossed stripes (now synonymous with the company as the "Tiger Stripes") were featured for the first time; martial artist Bruce Lee helped popularize the shoe. Onitsuka Tiger merged with fishing and sporting goods company GTO and athletic uniform maker Jelenk to form Asics Corporation in 1977; Onitsuka was named president of the new company. Despite the name change, a vintage range of Asics shoes are still produced and sold internationally under the Onitsuka Tiger label.{{Cite book |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/asics-corporation-history/ |title=International Directory of Company Histories |publisher=St. James Press |others=Jay P. Pederson, Thomson Gale |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-55862-698-0 |volume=57 |location=Detroit, Michigan |pages=52–54 |oclc=769044990 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224202138/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/asics-corporation-history/ |archive-date=2020-02-24 |url-status=live |via=Funding Universe}} In 2015, Asics launched its "Asics Tiger" lifestyle brand to market sportswear inspired by the company's designs of the 1970s to 1990s.{{Cite web |title=ASICS Tiger - by Bruce Mau Design / Core77 Design Awards |url=https://designawards.core77.com/home/award_permalink?id=61644&category_id=5 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Core77}}

Asics bought the Swedish outdoor brand Haglöfs for {{¥|11.4 billion|link=yes}} ($128.7 million) on July 12, 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE66B05E20100712|title=Japan's ASICS buys Sweden's Haglofs for $128.7 mln|publisher=Reuters|date=2010-07-12|access-date=2011-05-19|first=Mariko|last=Katsumura|archive-date=2021-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616040207/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE66B05E20100712|url-status=live}} In February 2016, Asics acquired fitness app Runkeeper.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/02/12/runkeeper-acquired-by-sports-shoes-giant-asics/|title=RunKeeper acquired by sportswear giant Asics|date=2016-02-12|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/12/runkeeper-asics/|title=Fitness App Runkeeper To Be Acquired By Running Shoe Maker ASICS|website=TechCrunch|date=12 February 2016|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-19}} LionRock Capital Limited acquired a 100% interest in Haglöfs from Asics on December 18, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=LionRock Capital Limited to acquire Haglöfs AB, one of the Nordics leading outdoor performance brands |url=https://www.mynewsdesk.com/haglofs/pressreleases/lionrock-capital-limited-to-acquire-hagloefs-ab-one-of-the-nordics-leading-outdoor-performance-brands-3293675 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Mynewsdesk - Haglöfs}}

style="margin: 0 auto;"

| File:ASICS Store Inside Boston.jpg neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts]]

| File:HK TKO 將軍澳 Tseung Kwan O PopCorn mall shop asics clothing January 2022 Px3.jpg]]

Asics generated {{¥|570.4 billion}} in net sales and {{¥|35.2 billion}} in net income in fiscal year 2023. 50% of the company's income came from the sale of performance running shoes, 33% from other shoes, 6% from apparel and equipment, and 11% from Onitsuka Tiger. 16% of the company's sales were in Japan, 21% in North America, 27% in Europe, 14% in China and 21% in other regions.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=ASICS Integrated Report 2023 |url=https://assets.asics.com/system/libraries/3227/ASICS%20Integrated%20Report%202023.pdf |access-date=July 31, 2024 |publisher=ASICS}}

In March 2021, Asics launched Unoha (ウノハ), a brand geared towards women.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-09 |title=アシックスからライフスタイルブランドがデビュー、ラウンジウェアなど展開 |url=https://www.fashionsnap.com/article/2021-03-09/unoha/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=FASHIONSNAP}} The brand mainly sells its products online and does not use physical locations other than temporary pop-ups that appear around Japan.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-03 |title=アシックスからライフスタイルブランド「ウノハ」誕生、エコな素材を用いた着心地の良いウェアやシューズ |url=https://www.fashion-press.net/news/70538 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Fashion Press |language=ja}} Apart from being a female focused clothing brand, Unoha has also pledged to use organic and environmentally friendly materials in its products. Unoha's first brand ambassador was Harumi Sato.{{Cite web |title=株式会社アシックスプレスリリース |url=https://corp.asics.com/jp/press/article/2022-03-15 |access-date=2023-08-21 |publisher=ASICS |language=ja}} On July 1, 2024, Asics announced that it had discontinued Unoha the previous month after only 3 years of existence.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=アシックスがライフスタイルブランド「ウノハ」の販売終了を発表、立ち上げから約3年 |url=https://www.fashionsnap.com/article/2024-07-01/asics-unoha-close/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=FASHIONSNAP}}

=Relationship with Nike=

Nike, Inc. (originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports) was founded to sell Onitsuka Tiger shoes in the U.S. When Phil Knight visited Japan in 1963, shortly after he graduated from Stanford University, he was impressed by Onitsuka Tiger shoes and immediately visited the Onitsuka Tiger office and asked to be their sales agent in the U.S. After a number of years the relationship crumbled and both companies sued each other, with Nike retaining the naming rights to several shoes.{{Cite book |last=Knight |first=Philip H. |title=Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike |title-link=Shoe Dog |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-5011-3591-0 |location=New York |oclc=945804148}}

Sponsorships

File:Paris-FR-75-open de tennis-2019-Roland Garros-court Chatrier-6 juin-Djokovic-03 2.jpg endorsed Asics footwear from the start of the 2018 season.]]

Asics sponsors a variety of sports associations, teams and individuals; sponsorships include World Athletics, the Los Angeles Marathon, as well as individual athletes such as volleyball player Ran Takahashi, footballer Takehiro Tomiyasu, and tennis players Iga Świątek, Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur and Jasmine Paolini.{{Cite web |last=McCullagh |first=Kevin |date=2019-09-27 |title=IAAF extends Asics deal for 10 years, approves name change |url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/iaaf-extends-asics-partnership-for-10-years-approves-name-change/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=SportBusiness |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Glendinning |first=Matthew |date=2019-04-11 |title=Asics returns to road running with LA Marathon deal |url=https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/news/asics-returns-to-road-running-with-la-marathon-deal/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=SportBusiness Sponsorship |language=en-GB}} The company announced on October 4, 2011, that it would be the new official kit manufacturer for the Australian national cricket team, replacing German manufacturer Adidas.{{cite web|url = http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/asics_partner_with_cricket_australia/|title = ASICS partner with Cricket Australia – Sports Sponsorship news – Cricket Oceania|publisher = SportsPro Media|date = 2011-11-04|access-date = 2012-06-11|last = Emmett|first = James|archive-date = 2011-10-05|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005195927/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/asics_partner_with_cricket_australia/|url-status = live}} Asics is also the official sportswear partner of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

Working conditions

In March 2017, employees assembling Asics products in Cambodia fainted due to thick smoke present in the factory where they were working. The company responded to this by saying that it, along with the factory in question, would "address specific measures, with a focus on workers’ awareness and health and safety training, as well as including an improved air ventilation system".{{Cite web|last=McVeigh|first=Karen|date=2017-06-24|title=Cambodian female workers in Nike, Asics and Puma factories suffer mass faintings|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/25/female-cambodian-garment-workers-mass-fainting|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605015707/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/25/female-cambodian-garment-workers-mass-fainting|archive-date=2022-06-05|access-date=2022-06-27|website=The Guardian|language=en}}

In March 2021, while several Western clothing brands expressed concern over allegations of forced Uyghur labor involved in Xinjiang cotton production, Asics also announced that the Australian Olympic Team uniform would not contain cotton sourced from Xinjiang.{{Cite web |title=ASICS head office clarifies that earlier post on sourcing Xinjiang cotton was unauthorised |url=https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/australian-olympic-uniform-supplier-asics-social-media-post-says-the-company-will-continue-to-buy-cotton-from-xinjiang-asics-head-office-denies-post-as-unauthorised/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Business & Human Rights Resource Centre |language=en}}

Gallery

File:Asics brand logo (1977–2003).svg|alt=The Asics logo from 1977 to 2006.|The Asics logo from 1977 to 2006. The typeface, designed by Herb Lubalin, is still used for the "Asics Tiger" line.

File:Asics wrestling shoes.jpg|A pair of Asics wrestling shoes, model Split Second V

File:Kinsei.jpg|A pair of Asics running shoes, model GEL-Kinsei

File:Asics Gel-Pulse 11.jpg|A pair of Asics running shoes, model Gel-Pulse 11

File:Asics Gel-Cumulus 22.jpg|Asics Gel-Cumulus 22, men's running shoes

File:ASICS Gel-Kayano 26 (womens).jpg|Asics Gel-Kayano 26, women's running shoes