ASICS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ASICS (アシックス; TYO: 7936 ) is an athletic equipment company that started in 1949 when Kihachiro Onitsuka began manufacturing basketball shoes at his home in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Asics produces shoes designed for football, running, martial arts, cricket, golf, wrestling, track & field, cross-training, volleyball, and for many other sports, especially cheerleading. Asics shoes were introduced into The United States in 1977 as "Tiger" brand shoes.
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[edit] History
The company name ASICS is an acronym for the Latin phrase "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano" which translates into English as "Healthy soul in a Healthy body". This is a variation on "mens sana in corpore sano". On July 21, 1977, Onitsuka's original Onitsuka Company, Limited merged with GTO and JELENK to form ASICS Corporation.
[edit] 2006
In its 2006 fiscal year, ASICS generated 171 billion yen in net sales and 13 billion yen in net income. Sixty-six percent of the company's income comes from the sale of sports shoes, 24 % from sportswear, and 10 % from sports equipment. Forty-nine percent of the company's sales are in Japan, 18 % in North America, and 29 % in Europe. Currently, the company has 3800 employees.
[edit] Sponsorship
ASICS sponsors many nationally ranked NAIA and NCAA men’s and women’s teams, as well as the national teams of: Brazil, Canada, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain and Sweden. It also sponsors volleyball, football, netball, Marathon, Sports Medicine Australia and the 2006 Winter Olympics. They sponsored the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League from the mid 90's until the end of 2004, they still supply footwear and apparel to players. The Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League also has Asics as an apparel sponsor.
