ASICS is an athletic equipment company from Japan founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka who started making basketball shoes in Kobe, Japan. Today, the company is a leading manufacturer of footwear for various sports activities, but is mostly known for being one of the makers of the best running shoes. ASICS is known for their distinctive mark, Mexico 66, a design with distinctive crossed stripes. The word ASICS is Latin for “anima sana in corpore sano,” which translates to “sound mind in a sound body.” Today, the company is a major sponsor for several sports teams in Japan.

The company has a 45,000 square feet research facility in Kobe, with a running track, basketball and volleyball courts where shoes are tested.

History of ASICS shoes

Founded by Kihachiro Onitsuka in 1949, the company originally started out as a manufacturer of basketball shoes and was initially known as Onitsuka Tiger. It started to broaden the range of sports activities that it targeted its shoe products for in the ’50s up to the ’70s, making shoes for football, volleyball, golf, martial arts, track and field, cheerleading, lacrosse, and a host of other sports activities. During the 1960s, the company’s shoes were worn not only by the Japanese but also by top international players, thereby, capturing a larger market share.

The company changed its name to ASICS in 1977 after merging with GTO and JELENK, although a vintage line of Onitsuka Tiger shoes are still being sold today. The company sponsors a number of football players from Portugal, Italy, Honduras, and Japan and was the official apparel sponsor of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Unique features of ASICS shoes

ASICS shoes are known for their durability and performance for the serious athlete. Their shoes are made with technologically-advanced designs and go through a rigorous testing and quality control process to ensure that you are getting the support you need while running. The shoes are known for their ability to adapt to different foot and running styles and for their comfortable cushion and insole support. You can also find ASICS shoes specifically designed for overpronators, players with plantar fasciitis and wide feet.

Best way to cleaning ASICS shoes

You can clean ASICS shoes with a special cleaner and a soft brush. For occasional stains, spot clean your ASICS shoes with warm water and detergent solution. Never put the shoes in a washing machine or a dryer, for this will cause damage.