Established in 1949 as a basketball shoe company in Kobe, Japan, ASICS has grown from humble beginnings to an internationally recognized sports company. An acronym for the Latin expression "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano" ("You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body”), ASICS is the brainchild of Mr. Kihachiro Onitsuka, a war veteran who dedicated his life to nurturing wellness in young people through sports. Today, ASICS combines technical research with design to create desirable yet highly performance-driven silhouettes. Its most well-known models include the Gel-Lyte III, Gel-Kayano 14, and Gel-1130.