ASICS was founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka in Kobe, Japan, beginning with basketball shoes before expanding into running and athletic footwear. The name is an acronym for the Latin phrase 'Anima Sana In Corpore Sano' - 'A Sound Mind In A Sound Body' - a philosophy that continues to drive the brand today.
Originally known as Onitsuka Co., Ltd., the company merged with GTO Co. and JELENK Co. in 1977 to form ASICS Corporation. Today, ASICS is renowned for its performance running shoes, developed through extensive biomechanical research at the ASICS Institute of Sport Science.
With headquarters in Kobe and over 600 retail stores globally, ASICS generated over ¥679 billion in sales in 2024. The company's running shoes represent 50% of income, with the brand also offering apparel, accessories, and the iconic Onitsuka Tiger lifestyle line.