The sneakers that represent Onitsuka Tiger feature the unique name "Mexico 66."
The moniker is based on the year of the shoe's development, which came in 1966 -- two years ahead of the Mexico Games -- for athletes aiming to compete in the Olympics.
The sneakers feature a pattern of four lines along the side called the Onitsuka Tiger Stripes. The design was inspired by the waves of the sea and a section of Kobe where the company was founded. The red color conveys the passion and the fighting spirit of young people, while the blue expresses a sense of calm and collected speed.
The simple and powerful design, along with its message, have not faded after a half-century, and are still alluring to many people.
The brand's origin lies in Onitsuka Co., an athletic shoe manufacturer that Kihachiro Onitsuka founded in 1949. With a strong desire to make inroads into the world market, the brand name was created by combining the founder's family name with the fierce image of a tiger.
At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, top athletes from Japan and abroad collected a number of medals in the brand's shoes, helping to grow their worldwide image.
Two years later, makers completed the Mexico 66 prototype training shoes, which included the four-stripe pattern with red and blue colors.
The brand disappeared in 1977 when Onitsuka merged with other companies to become Asics Corp. However, the four-line design survived the unification process and was designated for use on various shoe models.
The brand in 2002 made a comeback amid a retro sneaker boom. At the same time, the spotlight once again fell on the original model, and a Mexico 66 sneaker with a modern design was born.
The functionality has been improved based on the original design. The thin and elastic soles are very comfortable for athletes, as the shoes yield and flex along with the movement of the feet. It is popular with many, no matter gender, age or nationality.
In recent years, it has also attracted attention in joint productions with high-end fashion brands such as Givenchy and Valentino.
"We are always aware of design innovations with respect to the past," an Onitsuka Tiger Japan official said. Sneakers with Japanese origins continue to attract worldwide attention.
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