From the very beginning, ASICS has been about more than just shoes. Our company was founded to bring hope and joy to people through the power of movement.
Not long after returning from the Second Sino-Japanese War, our founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, was inspired by the phrase 'Anima Sana In Corpore Sano' —a Sound Mind in a Sound Body. He believed movement could uplift people, especially in challenging times. In 1950, while eating, he noticed the grip of octopus tentacles—an idea that sparked the design of his first basketball shoe with suction-cup soles. From that moment on, he dedicated his life and our company to creating purposeful footwear that helps people move better and feel better.
Mr Onitsuka lived by the saying, "If you start with something difficult, anything thereafter is possible".
And when he started something, he wouldn't stop until he was completely satisfied. He kept innovating for decades, inspiring thousands of people to move for body and for mind. This commitment to continuous improvement perfectly embodies the Kaizen philosophy.
In 1985, this commitment to excellence led to the establishment of the ASICS Institute of Sport Science (ISS) in Kobe, the birthplace of ASICS. The ISS was created to honour Mr Onitsuka's vision of helping people move better. And to this day, it is used to relentlessly research and trial millions of ASICS products with one goal in mind: to get people moving and keep them moving for their bodies and their minds.
Each spring, Mr Onitsuka would gather new employees to read aloud the values he built ASICS on, reminding them of the deeper meaning behind their work. These principles were more than just rules; they emphasised that character matters as much as performance. Today, his values remain deeply embedded in our culture, guiding us to grow, perform and uplift others.
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