(Photo source: pexels.com)
I was reading
the origin story of ASICS. They make shoes and are based in Japan. You might
recognise them by Onitsuka Tiger shoes. These shoes were very popular in
basketball. They offered proper grip during play. I am giving commentary as a
spectator and an out-and-out ignorant of basketball games.
When people
purchase something these days, they look for their origin story, even if it may
not be impressive, but an emotional one. The story of ASICS is something like
that. The founder was from a poor family and joined the Japanese army during
World War II. He did not take part in it but only trained people in those days.
His closest friend asked for his help and requested that he take care of his
adopted parents while he was away at war in Burma (Myanmar). He did so, which
is much uncalled for these days. Eventually, the friend did not come back from
the war. Long story short, he went to take care of his friend’s adopted parents
after the war to keep his word. People in those days had such high moral
standards. He even took their name, which is the highest form of respect one
could show anyway.
Well, after
that, he worked in many places and founded the ASCIS, a footwear company. He
had a vision that he would get the young generation to playgrounds so that they
could be away from all bad influences. He took an apprenticeship at a shoe
company and finally opened a company. In those days, Japanese youngsters were
learning to play basketball. Frankly speaking, basketball shoes are considered
very difficult to make because the players sprint and move sideways with equal
speed and force. One has to be able to sprint and stop at the right
moment to score. So, designers always had difficulty in designing long-lasting
shoes. The founder of Onitsuka, or ASICS, took it as a challenge and designed
one. He gave it to players to test and kept improving it. Finally, these shoes
helped a lot during games. Word spread, and people started buying these shoes.
This is how Onitsuka Tiger was born. Then there is no looking back.
Yet, after
fifty odd years, people tend to forget the specs and basics, and the story has
to be retold. IN our lives also, there is great importance in stories
because they drive us. It helps us to stay on the right path. Once in a
while, we tend to forget who we are and what our dreams are due to various
reasons. Yet our stories keep us on track.
Additionally,
in interviews, we have to have such background stories to present ourselves
because it really tells us what we are and when things synchronise, good things
happen.
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