Asics began as a small athletic shoe company in Kobe, Japan in 1949. Founded by Mr. Kihachiro Onitsuka, the company took its name Asics in 1977 from the acronym for "Anima Sana in Corpore Sano”. Staying true to this philosophy, every innovation, concept and idea of Asics leads to an ever-better product. Asics continues to promote fitness as a tool to achieve a state of health today.