I’ve been aware of the Onitsuka Tiger brand since their unlikely revival a couple years back. In fact, I own a pretty sweet track jacket that I picked up from one of their boutiques in Osaka. But I had no knowledge of their close ties with Asics. I always figured that Onitsuka Tiger stole their shoe stripes from Asics, or vice-versa, and that’s why their brand was mostly limited to Japan. Well, it turns out that they’re the same bloody company! All based in Kobe, down the road from me. And I know its plainly stated on their website, but I guess I’m highly ignorant of these things.
When I think about it, I guess it makes sense that modern Asics trainers are basically what evolved from a pair of Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66’s. Lucky for us, you can still buy these iconic sneakers right from Amazon, and feel all retro-athletic as you walk down the street struggling to lift your legs in your skinny jeans.
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