Introducing SWIFTACE™ YUKI

The SWIFTACE™ YUKI basketball shoe is here, developed with ASICS Athlete Yuki Kawamura for players who want speed and agility on the court. The shoe marks a new chapter in a story that started over 75 years ago; because when we first set out to help people move their bodies and minds, we started on the basketball court.

An octopus and an epiphany

In 1950, ASICS (founded in Japan as Onitsuka Tiger) released its first-ever product: the OK BASKETBALL shoe. At the time, basketball shoes were considered the most difficult shoes to design; our founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, was up for the challenge and wanted to “overcome a high hurdle at the start.”

The next year, Mr. Onitsuka had a moment of inspiration at the sight of an octopus tentacle on his dinner table. Noticing the natural grip, he went back to the drawing board and crafted his breakthrough design: the “suction cup” sole. The new traction pattern helped improve stopping power, and the experience shaped a design philosophy that we still hold today: kaizen, or “continuous improvement.”

A legacy of innovation

The early 1980s saw the introduction of the FABRE SUPER LIGHT shoe, the first basketball shoe to include super-lightweight EVA material, as well as the FABRE JAPAN series. The latter introduced a timeless silhouette that lives on in the current JAPAN S™ and JAPAN PRO™ sneakers.

In 1989, a new designer named Toshikazu Kayano (creator of the legendary GEL-KAYANO^® series) crafted his first project for ASICS: a basketball shoe for American players called GEL-EXTREME. The unique outsole pattern—which later returned in the EX89™ sneaker—mirrored his view of a city from the sky on his first trip to the United States.

Designing for performance

Released in 1992, the GEL-SPOTLYTE™ shoe took ASICS Basketball to the national stage in the U.S. Developed for pro-level speed and agility, the shoe reimagined the structure of a basketball shoe from the inside out, swapping traditional design elements with running shoe technology for a more nimble, comfortable experience.

Today, the SWIFTACE™ YUKI shoe also focuses on speed, mirroring the playing style of Yuki Kawamura. “My playing style involves a lot of quick directions and fast footwork,” says Yuki, “the SWIFTACE YUKI shoes give me solid support where I need it the most.”

Quick hits: what’s inside the SWIFTACE™ YUKI shoe

• Two-piece midsole with FLYTEFOAM™ cushioning in the heel and bouncy, energized FLYTEFOAM™ PROPEL cushioning in the forefoot
• Our first SPEEDTRUSS™ technology system specifically for basketball to support push-off and propulsion
• Specialized upper loop system for improved fit and advanced stability during intense lateral movements

In addition, the tongue of the shoe features Yuki’s sign and an inscription of his signature phrase: “Grateful for where I am.”

Available for growing feet

The kids’ SWIFTACE™ GS YUKI features a revised last (the mold that forms the shape of the shoe) and midsole, both designed to better support younger players. “One of my goals is to inspire the next generation through basketball – a sport which means so much to me,” says Yuki, “I feel so honored and excited to imagine kids wearing the same shoe design as me and playing on court.”

"With a new pair of shoes comes a new adventure.” – Yuki

The next chapter in ASICS Basketball starts here. Order your pair to be part of the adventure. Shop here now.