ASICS Establishes “ASICS TECHNICAL LAB” in Kobe to Advance Custom Footwear for Elite Athletes and Accelerate Innovation

Exterior view of ASICS TECHNICAL LAB
(artist’s impression; subject to change)

[KOBE, JAPAN – April 27, 2026] – ASICS, one of the global leaders in sports innovation, today announced the establishment of the ASICS TECHNICAL LAB in Kobe, Japan, a new facility dedicated to custom footwear for global elite athletes and rapid prototyping — enabling ASICS to bring higher quality performance products to customers around the world, more quickly. Scheduled to begin operations in December 2027, the lab will accelerate product development and strengthen integration between R&D and manufacturing across ASICS’ global network.

This facility has three core functions: crafting bespoke footwear tailored to the precise needs of elite athletes, accelerating prototyping and product validation to raise quality and speed across ASICS' broader product range, and developing the next generation of ASICS engineers and craftspeople. Together, these capabilities will strengthen ASICS’ product development capabilities and help bring better products to customers more efficiently.

The facility will work in close collaboration with the ASICS Institute of Sport Science in Kobe, allowing insights from biomechanics, physiology, and athlete testing to be directly applied to product design and manufacturing.

Equipped with dedicated measurement and collaboration spaces, ASICS TECHNICAL LAB will enable direct engagement with elite athletes, translating their highly individual feedback — fit, feel, and subtle nuance — into precisely crafted footwear. The expertise and insights gained through this process will in turn inform and elevate ASICS' wider product development.


“Since our founding, ASICS has upheld its philosophy of ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’—a Sound Mind in a Sound Body—and has combined sports engineering with craftsmanship to support athlete performance,” said Mitsuyuki Tominaga, President and COO of ASICS.
“With the ASICS TECHNICAL LAB, we will accelerate development and validation while delivering our technologies and craftsmanship to athletes at an even higher level. This will strengthen our global R&D structure and enable us to bring innovation to market more quickly.”


At launch, ASICS TECHNICAL LAB will focus on developing precisely crafted footwear for elite athletes alongside rapid prototyping that supports product innovation across ASICS' full range. In the future, ATL could also support consumer product manufacturing — including "Made in Japan" products that bring ASICS' elite craftsmanship to a wider audience.

ASICS also plans to open this facility to the public — giving people a firsthand look at the craftsmanship and philosophy behind its performance products, in Kobe where it all began.

Overview of ASICS TECHNICAL LAB