Thursday, 16 February 2012

ONITSUKA TIGER SHOES








 Born in 1949. The founder, Mr. Kihachiro Onitsuka had a goal to promote a healthy lifestyle and bring up a sound youth through the spirit of sport. 

Throughout the 40s as basketball grew in popularity, most students were playing barefoot. Mr. Onitsuka knew that if he could perfect the basketball shoe - the most technically difficult to make - anything was possible. 

After studying the High School basketball team in Kobe for six months and 
listening to their needs, our first basketball shoe was born.
Mr. Onitsuka knew he could improve the first shoe’s performance, but how could he make a basketball shoe with superior grip? The answer stared back at him from his plate.  Born in 1949. Our founder, Mr. Kihachiro Onitsuka had a goal to promote a healthy lifestyle and bring up a sound youth through the spirit of sport. 

Throughout the 40s as basketball grew in popularity, most students were playing barefoot. Mr. Onitsuka knew that if he could perfect the basketball shoe - the most technically difficult to make - anything was possible. 

After studying the High School basketball team in Kobe for six months and 
listening to their needs, our first basketball shoe was born.
Mr. Onitsuka knew he could improve the first shoe’s performance, but how could he make a basketball shoe with superior grip? The answer stared back at him from his plate. 

Suckers on the octopus tentacle in his salad were the inspiration for the ground- breaking Suction Cup Sole. The prototype’s grip proved so strong that testers were sticking to the floor and falling over. It took many trials before the perfect sole with optimum grip and ultimate movement was produced. 

It is in our heritage to follow Mr. Onitsuka’s example and take inspiration from everywhere. For instance, it was after studying the air-circulating workings of a motorcycle engine that he had the radical idea of putting holes in his long distance shoes, the MAGICRUNNER, to keep feet cool and comfortable.
We created the NIPPON 60 delegation shoe (delegation shoes are designed for Olympic teams to wear at official functions and ceremonies) for the 1960 Rome Olympics. It featured the classic rising sun motif. 

In 1966, the ASICS stripe design that we still use to this day, was introduced for shoes being developed for the 1968 Olympic Games. Called ‘Mexico lines’, the stripe has become our trademark design.

We also introduced the revolutionary RUNSPARK DS SP, the epoch of track shoes. Where others had only fixed spikes, our RUNSPARK was the first track shoe to have interchangeable spikes, making it perfect for any track and all conditions. 

Towards the end of the decade in 1967, we introduced our LIMBER LEATHER shoe to the world. The entire Japanese Olympic team wore it as delegation shoes at the Mexico games. The MEXICO 66 with ASICS stripes are based on the LIMBER LEATHER shoes.

Meanwhile, a small former American agency of Onitsuka, run by a man named Phil Knight began selling the CORTEZ shoe, which was based on our CORSAIR. Knight named his outlet NIKE.
The first Onitsuka Tiger apparel collection was created in 1975, when Kihachiro Onitsuka, was asked by the Japanese Olympic committee to supply the official clothing for the country

Suckers on the octopus tentacle in his salad were the inspiration for the ground- breaking Suction Cup Sole. The prototype’s grip proved so strong that testers were sticking to the floor and falling over. It took many trials before the perfect sole with optimum grip and ultimate movement was produced. 

It is in our heritage to follow Mr. Onitsuka’s example and take inspiration from everywhere. For instance, it was after studying the air-circulating workings of a motorcycle engine that he had the radical idea of putting holes in his long distance shoes, the MAGICRUNNER, to keep feet cool and comfortable.

We created the NIPPON 60 delegation shoe (delegation shoes are designed for Olympic teams to wear at official functions and ceremonies) for the 1960 Rome Olympics. It featured the classic rising sun motif. 

In 1966, the ASICS stripe design that we still use to this day, was introduced for shoes being developed for the 1968 Olympic Games. Called ‘Mexico lines’, the stripe has become our trademark design.

We also introduced the revolutionary RUNSPARK DS SP, the epoch of track shoes. Where others had only fixed spikes, our RUNSPARK was the first track shoe to have interchangeable spikes, making it perfect for any track and all conditions. 

Towards the end of the decade in 1967, we introduced our LIMBER LEATHER shoe to the world. The entire Japanese Olympic team wore it as delegation shoes at the Mexico games. The MEXICO 66 with ASICS stripes are based on the LIMBER LEATHER shoes.

Meanwhile, a small former American agency of Onitsuka, run by a man named Phil Knight began selling the CORTEZ shoe, which was based on our CORSAIR. Knight named his outlet NIKE.
The first Onitsuka Tiger apparel collection was created in 1975, when Kihachiro Onitsuka, was asked by the Japanese Olympic committee to supply the official clothing for the country
NOWADAYS, ONITSUKA HAD A MUCH OF SHOES LINE THROUGH THE WORLDWIDE...AND ALSO THEIR DIE HARD FANS..:)

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