Onitsuka Tiger is a Japanese shoe brand rooted in Onitsuka Co., Ltd., a company founded by Kihachiro Onitsuka in Kobe in 1949. He started out making sports shoes, from basketball to marathon running. The name Tiger was chosen because Onitsuka associated the animal with strength and agility. In 1977 his company merged with two other companies to become Asics. The Onitsuka Tiger name was set aside for a while, then revived in 2002 as a fashion brand. Today the brand is best known for the Mexico 66, a low-profile shoe with crossed stripes on its sides. For buyers of secondhand shoes, this sporting history is useful to know. The designs started from shoes that were made to be worn in motion, so the condition of the sole and the construction deserves careful checking.
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Onitsuka founded his business in Kobe in 1949 and soon afterward turned it into Onitsuka Co., Ltd. His first basketball shoe came out in 1950. According to company records, a year later he developed a basketball shoe with a sole patterned like octopus suction cups, so it would grip well when stopping suddenly. In 1960 came the Magic Runner, a marathon shoe with ventilation holes to reduce heat and blisters. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, silver medalist Basil Heatley and bronze medalist Kōkichi Tsuburaya wore Onitsuka marathon shoes. Two years later, after an internal design competition, the Mexico line was born, with two pairs of crossed stripes.
The Onitsuka name is also tied to the history of Nike. In the early 1960s, the American runner Phil Knight began importing Onitsuka running shoes. Together with his coach, Bill Bowerman, he founded Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, the forerunner of Nike. One result of that collaboration was the Cortez, a cushioned training shoe designed by Bowerman. The relationship between the two ended in a lawsuit in 1973. Onitsuka kept selling its own version under the name Tiger Corsair. In 1967, the first shoe guide from Runner's World ranked the Tiger Road Runner and the Tiger Marathon as the best in their class.
In 1977 Onitsuka, GTO, and JELENK merged to become Asics. Asics revived Onitsuka Tiger in Europe in 2002 by re-releasing the Mexico 66, Ultimate 81, and Nippon 60. Its first store opened in Tokyo in 2003. The Nippon Made series, made and finished in Japan, followed in 2008. Since 2017, Andrea Pompilio has been its creative director.
- Mexico 66: the best-known model, a low-profile shoe with crossed stripes from the 1966 Mexico line, re-released in 2002.
- Ultimate 81: one of the archive models re-released in 2002 when the brand was revived.
- Nippon 60: another archive model that was re-released in 2002.
- Tai-Chi: became well known after Uma Thurman wore the yellow-and-black version in the film Kill Bill: Volume 1 in 2003.
- Nippon Made: a series of shoes made and finished in Japan, since 2008, with early models in Japanese leather with an aged look.
What we check before listing
We start with the sole. A midsole that has turned yellow, brittle, or has begun to peel away from the upper is a common problem on older shoes. Then we check the signature stripes on the sides: whether the stitching is neat, symmetrical on the left and right, and not peeling. We compare the labels on the tongue and inside the shoe against the print, logo, and size codes. We also look at cracks in the upper, the condition of the insole, the level of wear on the tread, and any damp smell. For leather series such as Nippon Made, we tell apart an aged color that is intentional from stains or damage. All of this is our own observation, not a guarantee of authenticity.
Caring for it
Clean the upper with a damp cloth and mild soap. Do not soak the shoes or put them in a washing machine. Dry them in a shaded place with good air circulation, away from direct heat, because heat can weaken the glue and harden the sole. For leather parts, apply a modest amount of leather care product. Store them with shoe trees or paper to keep their shape, and leave a gap between wears so the inside can dry.
FAQ
Is Onitsuka Tiger the same as Asics?
The two are closely related. Onitsuka Co., Ltd. merged with GTO and JELENK to become Asics in 1977. Today Onitsuka Tiger is owned by Asics and run as a fashion brand, while the Asics brand is aimed more at sports performance.
What makes the Mexico 66 easy to recognize?
The crossed stripes on its sides. The design comes from the Mexico line introduced in 1966 after an internal design competition. The silhouette is low, and it is more often sold as a fashion shoe than as a competition shoe.
How do I choose the size of a secondhand Onitsuka Tiger?
Do not rely only on the number on the label. Measure the insole length in centimeters and compare it with the length of your foot. We list the label size and, where possible, the insole length in the item description.
Is a secondhand shoe with a yellowed sole still fit to wear?
It depends on how bad the damage is. Yellowing alone is usually only a matter of appearance. A sole that is brittle, cracked, or coming off the upper affects how safe the shoe is to wear. We note this condition as it is in the item description.
References
Facts summarised and rewritten from the sources above (CC BY-SA licence).