Latest news with #YasuhitoHirota
Japan Forward
06-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
ASICS' New Marathon Shoe Weighs Only 129 Grams
Japanese shoewear company ASICS will release its ultra-lightweight marathon shoe, the METASPEED REY, in mid-August. Weighing just 129 grams per shoe (size 27.0 cm), it is among the lightest on the market among major brands. ASICS aims to make a strong push in a competitive market long dominated by overseas rivals like Nike. In addition to the REY, the company will release two upgraded models in late July: the METASPEED SKY TOKYO, designed for long-stride runners, and the METASPEED EDGE TOKYO, for high-cadence runners. The global launch event for the new METASPEED series. The company hopes these new models will help athletes win gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. A launch event was held on May 2 at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo. It attracted around 120 people, including 80 running-focused media representatives from around the world. ASICS Chairman and CEO Yasuhito Hirota took the stage and said, "We're developing premium running shoes in close partnership with athletes to help them run faster." ASICS CEO Yasuhito Hirota. In 2017, Nike disrupted the running world by introducing thick-soled racing shoes that quickly came to dominate global races. At the time, ASICS' thin-soled models left the company struggling to compete. In response, it launched the C-Project in 2019 under Hirota's leadership to create a new line of competitive shoes. The "C" stands for chojo , which means "summit." The first METASPEED models debuted in 2021, followed by improved versions in 2022 and 2024. The new REY, SKY TOKYO, and EDGE TOKYO represent the fourth generation in the series. Click to watch highlights from the event in English. The new models feature a midsole material called FF LEAP, which is 15% lighter and offers 13.7% more rebound than previous materials. Both the SKY TOKYO and EDGE TOKYO weigh 170 grams per shoe — 15 grams lighter than their predecessors, SKY PARIS and EDGE PARIS. The 129-gram REY model uses FF LEAP throughout the midsole. It also features an ultra-thin upper and a thinner, smaller outsole to reduce weight. A development team member noted, "It was a battle to shave off every gram." The three models of the new METASPEED series: the ultra-light REY (center), EDGE for high-cadence runners (right), and SKY for long-stride runners (left). ASICS was late to adopt the thick-sole trend and suffered a major blow when no athletes wore its shoes at the 2021 Hakone Ekiden. However, the launch of the METASPEED series that same year helped the brand regain momentum. By the 2025 Hakone Ekiden, the company had recovered about 25% of the market share. In January 2024, runner Honami Maeda broke the Japanese women's marathon record with a time of 2:18:59 at the Osaka International Women's Marathon. She was wearing METASPEED shoes. The series is increasingly seen as a record-breaking tool by elite athletes. The REY will retail for ¥33,000 JPY (about $230 USD). SKY TOKYO and EDGE TOKYO will be priced at ¥29,700 (about $200). All prices include tax. ASICS has a long history with ultra-light shoes. In 1985, it released the Marathon Sortie UL-100, which weighed just 100 grams (size 25.5 cm). The shoe shocked the athletic world but failed to catch on due to its extremely thin sole, which offered little durability or cushioning. Did that experience influence today's 129-gram design? Shuhei Takemura, head of the C-Project, explained, "Shoe performance and roles are different now. We weren't aiming for 100 grams." Still, he acknowledged that, just like 40 years ago, today's design was driven by athlete feedback. "ASICS spirit of pushing the limits of lightweight design remains unchanged," he said. The performance of thick-soled racing shoes — popularized by Nike — relies on high-rebound materials and carbon plates that convert landing impact into forward propulsion. For years, brands accepted heavier weights as a tradeoff for better running efficiency. But now that thick-sole technology has matured, weight reduction is once again a key differentiator. Adidas released a 138-gram (size 27.0 cm) thick-soled shoe in 2023 that was very successful. In this context, ASICS is jumping to the front of the pack with its 129-gram REY. An Asics development team member explains the weight reduction of the METASPEED EDGE TOKYO. ASICS prioritizes athlete needs. Development of the METASPEED series was done in close collaboration with top runners under contract. At the May 2 launch event, Belgian Olympic silver medalist Bashir Abdi, four-time Olympian Eilish McColgan of the United Kingdom, and Japanese half-marathon record holder Tomoki Ota (sponsored by Toyota) all spoke about the shoes' features. McColgan told The Sankei Shimbun that ASICS listens carefully to athletes and quickly incorporates feedback. Her comments reflect strong trust in the brand. UK athlete Eilish McColgan at the launch event for the new METASPEED series. When I tested the new METASPEED series, the shoes' lightness was immediately noticeable — but so were the challenges. The REY provides a spring-like rebound but sacrifices stability. The ultra-thin upper lacks structure, which can make the shoe feel unstable and lead to potential missteps. According to an ASICS representative, the REY is suited for "top athletes who can maintain high speeds until the end of the race and push with powerful strides." Runners who tire late in a race may risk breakdowns in form, reduced pace, or even injury. Courses with curves or downhill sections also pose a risk of ankle twists. In contrast, the SKY TOKYO felt more balanced. It offered a better combination of rebound and stability, allowing for more confident running. The EDGE TOKYO shares similar characteristics and is designed for both elite and competitive amateur runners. With three distinct models launching simultaneously, it's essential for runners to try them on for a test run to find the right match. ( Read the article in Japanese . ) Author: The Sankei Shimbun
Fashion United
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Fashion United
ASICS and World Athletics welcome athletes in the heart of Tokyo to try to break new records at the Tokyo : Speed : Race
On Saturday 3 May, ASICS will close the streets of Tokyo to host a unique speed race on a flat, fast course next to the Japan National Stadium, home of the upcoming World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. The event, co-hosted by World Athletics, is called Tokyo : Speed : Race and will bring together world-class ASICS athletes to push the boundaries of speed and performance. The event will also offer recreational runners of all levels the unique opportunity to run on the same course, unlocking new levels of confidence as they chase personal bests. The race will feature approximately 120 world-class elite athletes, attempting to break world, national and personal records over the 5K and 10K distances. They will be joined by approximately 2,750 amateur runners of varying levels, each aiming to improve their time, who will compete over the 5K distance and in a half-marathon relay. There will also be a 1K family run open to children and a race for deaf athletes organised with the support of Deaflympics. The course consists of a fast one-kilometer loop with the Japan National Stadium as a backdrop, while the finish line is in front of the Meiji Memorial Museum: an iconic setting that makes this race even more special. ASICS believes that speed is not just measured in time, but also in the sensations it conveys. The Japanese company was born in the post-war period with the philosophy of helping each person achieve a healthy mind in a healthy body through the uplifting power of sport and movement, and this same principle is the source of inspiration for Tokyo: Speed: Race. The feeling of confidence you get when attempting to run faster than you've ever run before is unmatched, and ASICS is excited to celebrate this with its runners and see what records they can achieve. Credits: Asics In addition to providing an incredible sports showcase, Tokyo: Speed: Race will also be the moment when ASICS will officially unveil its new flagship running shoe, which fans have already been able to get a glimpse of on the company's social media channels in recent days. The new products represent ASICS' innovative, human-centric approach to shoe design, which takes into account different running styles, matching technical specifications and technologies to individual style to allow every runner to experience new levels of speed and confidence in the pursuit of peak performance. The Tokyo : Speed : Race will be live-streamed from 19:00 JST on the World Athletics YouTube channel, so fans around the world can watch the event for free. ASICS is excited to give global audiences the chance to see the athletes, feel the speed and find confidence in the new range of running shoes. Yasuhito Hirota , CEO of ASICS, said: 'We are thrilled to welcome the athletes participating in the Tokyo:Speed:Race and wish them all the best of luck in their race. After careful planning, we believe we have given runners the best possible chance to experience new levels of speed by harnessing the power of ASICS' latest product innovations. Since 1949, ASICS has created products that best fit the body and mind, and these latest product innovations are the ultimate proof of our relentless focus on human-centered design, biomechanical science and decades of continuous innovation.'
