The TOKYO MARATHON 2014 (organized by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation, http://www.tokyo42195.org/2014en/ ) was held Sunday, February 23. The event, sponsored by ASICS Japan Corporation, drew 36,000 participants.

With one percent of the global population now said to have completed a full marathon, more runners are traveling from abroad every year to participate. Approximately 20% of participants in full marathons in Japan travel from overseas for the events. Of those, more than half are from Asian countries (excluding Japan).

In recent years, about 50% of runners in the Tokyo Marathon has been wearing ASICS running shoes. This year as well, ASICS shoes supported the feet of a similar proportion of runners. (*1)

(Photo: http://www.image.net/asics_tokyomarathon2014 )

For over 60 years, ASICS has played a role in the safe and comfortable sporting lives of everyone, from top athletes to people who enjoy sports casually. ASICS has been developing shoes appropriate for movements and foot forms characteristic of various sports since 1949.

The changes in foot form and stresses on the body that occur during exercise, which differ by sport and gender, are analyzed using ergonomics-based research on materials development and structural design conducted at the ASICS Institute of Sports Science (founded in 1985). The materials and structural designs developed from such analyses are used in the ASICS product lineup.

ASICS Running Services Corner at  Tokyo Marathon EXPO 2014

Free analyses of foot size and running style using the 3D Foot Scanning System (measuring foot form in three dimensions) and Dynamic FOOT ID (analyzing running form) are available at the following stores in Asia (excluding Japan).

China: ASICS store

Taiwan: ASICS store, Big City (to be moved to another location after April)

South Korea: ASICS Gangnam direct shop

Singapore: ASICS Bonifacio High Street

MY ASICS: A training app for designing individualized programs based on running level:

China (http://my.asics.com.cn/ )

South Korea (http://my.asics.co.kr/ )

Taiwan (http://my.asics.com.tw/ )

(*1) Based on a visual count by ASICS of about 18,000 runners at a certain spot (counted for about 5 hours after the top runner passed through).

Source: ASICS