Historical Shoes

In the 1950s, generic athletic shoes or tabi (traditional split-toe Japanese footwear) were the norm for footwear in any sport. But after Yukio Matsumoto, coach of Hyogo Prefectural Kobe High School’s powerhouse basketball team, requested a pair of customized shoes to help his players to make the fast breaks and sudden stops needed on the court, Onitsuka Tiger developed its first ever model: the TIGER MARK BASKETBALL SHOES. The following year saw the release of the Suction Cup Basketball Shoes, inspired by octopus suction cups. From there, Onitsuka Tiger quickly gained nationwide recognition through word-of-mouth.

Onitsuka Tiger’s success in basketball shoes was just the beginning, leading to one innovative shoe after the next. In 1954, the ompany became the first to use durable, water-resistant, lightweight nylon fabric to produce the TIGER MARK NYLON WRESTLING SHOES, released the following year. Featuring meticulous details such as internal metal eyelets to account for the close skin-to-skin contact in wrestling, the shoes were widely adopted by athletes and worn by two gold-medal winners in the 1956 international porting events.

The 1950s also saw Onitsuka Tiger begin developing shoes for long-distance running. Noticing runners suffering from blisters, the company sought a solution. Drawing inspiration from the air-cooled engines of motorcycles, Onitsuka Tiger devised an air circulation system to dissipate heat inside the shoe. The result? An innovative pair of running shoes with ventilation uppers: the MAGIC RUNNER. Silver medal-winner Kenji Kimihara wore these shoes at the Mexico City 1968 international sporting events.

The 1950s also saw Onitsuka Tiger begin developing shoes for long-distance running. Noticing runners suffering from blisters, the company sought a solution. Drawing inspiration from the air-cooled engines of motorcycles, Onitsuka Tiger devised an air circulation system to dissipate heat inside the shoe. The result? An innovative pair of running shoes with ventilation uppers: the MAGIC RUNNER. Silver medal-winner Kenji Kimihara wore these shoes at the Mexico City 1968 international sporting events.

The MARUP, an abbreviation of “Marathon Up Shoes,” was first introduced in 1953 as the TIGER MARK MARUP SHOES , with numerous improved models released over the years. Released in 1967, the MARUP NYLON emerged as the series’successor, incorporating a highly breathable three-layer upper made of nylon, urethane foam, and tricot, effectively addressing ventilation concerns associated with nylon materials. Its distinctive tricolor design made it a hit as a fashionable streetwear sneaker

Onitsuka Tiger designed Japan’s “delegation shoes”—footwear worn by national athletes at international sporting events—from 1956 to 1980 (when Japan did not participate). This model, made for the 1968 international sporting events and styled in red and white to evoke Japan’s Hinomaru flag, was the first pair of delegation shoes to feature the MEXICO LINE, or Onitsuka Tiger stripe. The design also laid the foundation for the VICKKA released in 1970.

In the 1970s, Onitsuka Tiger developed a dedicated shoe model for tennis, in line with a global boom in the sport at the time. Alongside the synthetic leather LAWNSHIP 30, two other models were launched simultaneously: the genuine leather LAWNSHIP 40 and the mesh LAWNSHIP 15. The design differed from conventional tennis shoes of the time, featuring open-lacing in the style of bluchers and, to suit the clay courts popular at the time, a herringbone-patterned outsole offering excellent grip and release.

The OHBORI originated from the 1966 Fukuoka International Marathon, the first marathon to be recognized as a championship by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (now World Athletics). Developed as a marathon shoe to appeal to top runners around the world participating in the event, the name derives from Ohori Park, the start and finish point of the race. It was also the first marathon shoe to incorporate EVA material in the midsole, which provided lightweight and superior impact cushioning.

The jogging craze that swept the U.S. in the 1970s had spread to Japan. Onitsuka Tiger responded by releasing new models for amateur runners, different from training shoes for athletes. Called “jogging shoes,” one such model was the ENDURO, released in 1977. Its distinctive raised heel provided better stability on uneven terrain, and studs on the outsole made it ideal for cross-country.

The CALIFORNIA debuted as a new pair of running shoes the year following the launch of the ENDURO. This model, designed for road running, featured a lightweight, breathable mesh upper, suede fabric on the toe and heel for added durability, and a linear herringbone pattern on the outsole for improved grip. Its standout feature was the reflective panel on the heel, making runners more visible at night. The CALIFORNIA marked jogging as an activity for everyone.