Originally founded in 1949 as the Onitsuka Company Limited by Kihachiro Onitsuka, ASICS’ original goal was to make postwar Japan a better place through sport, especially for the nation’s youth. At the time, the country was in a true shortage of footwear, and Onitsuka set out to fix this gap as well as instill a healthy lifestyle for kids around Japan.
Years later, after some success in the shoe game, Onitsuka changed the company’s name based off of an inspiring Latin phrase, “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano,” meaning "You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body." These Latin words held true to his original mission and went on to form what we now know today as ASICS.
ASICS has had its roots in many sports and has been adopted by pop culture, bringing it to the streets, but ASICS’ iconic crossed stripes stretch the furthest in the running game. Their success in running is largely thanks to their endless innovation in cushioning technologies, frequently focused on running and track. Today, kids across the world look to ASICS for their choice running shoe due to its time-tested performance and unique styles.
