Asics was founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka in Kobe, starting with basketball shoes made out of his own home. Onitsuka Tiger became Asics in 1977 – an acronym for "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano". The Gel cushioning comes from running. The models reached skateboarding through the scene itself, not through marketing; there's a dedicated skate line now.

Shoes only (Japan Pro, Gel-Vickka Pro, Leggerezza).