The Asics Innovation Summit moves to Virtual Reality for the announcement of three new performance shoes
Asics, a sports equipment company, has announced 3 revolutionary new shoes to power and protect athletes – the Metaracer advanced racing shoe for long distances, the Metarise volleyball shoe and the spikeless Metasprint track shoe for elite sprinters. Like all Asics innovation, they are designed to help athletes perform at their peak and protect them at the same time.
Right now, the uplifting power of movement and sport is more important than ever; the World Health Organisation says that physical activity is an important way for people to cope with global restrictions on movement and enforced social distance.
The three new shoes will be announced in the Sunrise Red colour scheme, which is a symbol of athletes’ hope, passion and dedication and celebrates the city of Tokyo. “The three new shoes keep with the best Asics tradition: they help athletes to perform better, but also keep them safe at the same time,” said Kenichi Harano, Executive Officer and Senior General Manager at the Asics Institute of Sport Science.
“Innovation has been at the core of the Asics DNA since 1949 when our founder Kihachiro Onitsuka decided the power of sports could help transform the lives of children in war-torn Japan. Kihachiro Onitsuka decided that the power of sports could help children overcome the challenges and hardships after World War II.
“Ever since, whether it was an elite competition year or not, Asics has continuously innovated to equip athletes of all abilities with the gear they need to reach their peak performance – but to do so safely. That’s the true spirit of Asics .”
Originally planning to announce its new shoes at an Asics Innovation Summit in Tokyo, the company has taken its shoe innovation into Virtual Reality, for Asics’ first product preview in VR. Media, athletes and shoppers around the world can experience the three new shoes up close and personal – in the virtual innovation lab of the Asics Institute of Sport Science. The Institute is the home of Asics innovation in Kobe, Japan, with scientists, engineers and designers constantly working to develop technology that helps athletes to safely perform to the best of their abilities.
“We believe that now, more than ever, it’s really important to remember the positive impact of sport for individuals and society: exercise uplifts people, so they achieve a sound mind through a sound body. And what better way to showcase Asics innovation than taking people to a virtual innovation lab that brings our technology to life,” said Yasuhito Hirota, the President & Chief Operating Officer of Asics.
