Onitsuka Tiger opens first dedicated production facility

As Asics-owned Onitsuka Tiger continues to grow its international presence, including a new flagship store in London, closer to home, the Japanese sports footwear brand has invested in its first dedicated production facility in Tottori, the coastal prefecture in Japan’s southern Honshu.

Called the ‘Onitsuka Innovative Factory’, the new facility “integrates the entire lifecycle of creation — from material development to design and production — under one roof”.

It will also act as a cultural hub, “showcasing Onitsuka Tiger’s brand vision and the artistry of Japanese craftsmanship to a global audience”. 

The facility will collaborate closely with the Milan Design Center — Onitsuka Tiger’s international creative headquarters — and The Asics Institute of Sport Science, “which focuses on pioneering research in advanced sports technology”.

The facility will also strengthen production for “high-value-added footwear”, including the globally ‘Nippon Made’ series and the formal leather shoe line ‘The Onitsuka’. It will also mark the brand’s first venture into leather bag production, “further expanding its creative horizons”.

It also comes with an adjacent gallery to showcase rare archival pieces and exhibits “highlighting the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship” while the Onitsuka Gallery Store also opens, marking the brand’s first retail presence in Tottori Prefecture.

The store will offer selected Nippon Made products produced at the factory, alongside a custom-order shoe service.