The TOKYO MARATHON 2014 was held on Sunday, February 23. The event, sponsored by ASICS Japan Corporation, drew 36,000 participants. With one percent of the global population now said to have completed a full marathon, more runners are traveling from abroad every year to participate. Approximately 20% of participants in full marathons in Japan travel from overseas for the events. Of those, more than half are from Asian countries (excluding Japan).
In recent years, about 50% of runners in the Tokyo Marathon have been wearing ASICS running shoes. This year as well, ASICS shoes supported the feet of a similar proportion of runners. For over 60 years, ASICS has played a role in the safe and comfortable sporting lives of everyone, from top athletes to people who enjoy sports casually. ASICS has been developing shoes appropriate for movements and foot forms characteristic of various sports since 1949.
The changes in foot form and stresses on the body that occur during exercise, which differ by sport and gender, are analyzed using ergonomics-based research on materials development and structural design conducted at the ASICS Institute of Sports Science (founded in 1985). The materials and structural designs developed from such analyses are used in the ASICS product lineup.