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 Mizuno Crista, theOsaka head office | |
Native name | ミズノ株式会社 / 美津濃株式会社 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Mizuno Kabushiki-gaisha |
| Company type | Public (K.K.) |
| TYO:8022 | |
| Industry | Sports equipment |
| Founded | April 1, 1906; 119 years ago (1906-04-01)[1] |
| Founder | Rihachi Mizuno Rizo Mizuno |
| Headquarters | Suminoe,Osaka,Japan |
Key people | Akito Mizuno [jp] (President)[2] |
| Products | |
| Revenue | JPY 148,703,000,000 (2010)[3] |
| JPY 1,406,000,000 (2010)[3] | |
Number of employees | 5,368 (2013) |
| Website | mizuno.com (Corporate website) |
Mizuno Corporation (ミズノ株式会社, legally 美津濃株式会社,Mizuno Kabushiki-gaisha) (TYO:8022) is a Japanesesports equipment andsportswear company, founded inOsaka in 1906 by Rihachi Mizuno. Today, Mizuno is a globalcorporation which makes a wide variety of sports equipment and sportswear fortable tennis,boxing,badminton,golf,baseball,mixed martial arts,association football,gridiron football,futsal,judo,rugby,running,skiing,athletics,swimming,tennis,handball,volleyball andnetball.
Mizuno was founded in 1906 as Mizuno Brothers, Ltd. by Rihachi Mizuno and his younger brother Rizo, inOsaka. The shop soldWestern-world sundries, including baseballs, and then in 1907 began to sell order-made athletic wear. In 1910 the shop moved toUmeda-Shinmichi and its name was changed to Mizuno Shop. In 1913 the firm began to manufacturebaseballs andgloves. In 1933 Mizuno presentedStar Line, the first Japanese madegolf clubs. By 1935 its golf club showroom was the world's largest. In 1941 the company name was changed to Mizuno Co., Ltd, and has remained the same since. DuringWorld War II, Mizuno manufactured military ordnance for Japan's war effort.[4]
The firstAmerican factory was established inLos Angeles, under the denomination American Mizuno in 1961. During the following years, Mizuno signed sponsorship deals with some of the most prominent personalities in sports, such astrack and field athleteCarl Lewis,[5] theAll Blacks rugby team, formerSan Francisco 49ersquarterbackJoe Montana for most of his years in theNFL, theManu Samoa rugby team,Czechtennis playerIvan Lendl, andgolf playerNick Faldo and baseball Hall of FamerRickey Henderson.
To gain a foothold in the baseball glove market in the United States, the mobile "Mizuno Baseball Workshop" was introduced in the late 1970s to servicemajor league clubs duringspring training inArizona andFlorida. The forty-foot (12 m) van contained extensive leather-working equipment and was operated by two skilled Japanese craft workers who could produce made-to-order gloves and repair all brands.[6]
The company also expanded its operation centres opening new factories inGermany,France,China,Scotland andHong Kong.
In 2023, theWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s Madrid Yearly Review ranked Mizuno's number of marks applications filled under theMadrid System as 8th in the world, with 79trademarks applications submitted during 2023.[7]
To commemorate the company's 30th anniversary, the company began manufacturinggliders in 1936.[8] Among the company's military design efforts included theMizuno Shinryu, a proposedrocket-poweredinterceptor that never left the prototyping stages, and theMizuno MXZ1, a training glider.[9]
Mizuno is a manufacturer of golf clubs and accessories. Its equipment range includes drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters, with prominent product lines such as the JPX and Mizuno Pro series. The JPX series — including JPX925 Hot Metal, Forged, and Tour models — is designed for a wide range of golfers, while the Mizuno Pro irons (models 241, 243, and 245) are forged and tailored for advanced players. The company’s custom fitting services leverage its Shaft Optimizer 3D technology to recommend club configurations based on swing data.[10][11]
JPX Series: JPX irons, such as the JPX925 Hot Metal, Forged, and Tour models, are designed for a range of players and balance ball speed, forgiveness, and distance control. JPX drivers feature technologies such as Cortech chambers and adjustable weighting systems intended to influence launch conditions.[12]
Mizuno Pro Series: Forged irons in this series, including the Mizuno Pro 241, 243, and 245, are designed with traditional blade-style aesthetics and are used by some professional golfers.[13] Mizuno also offers Signature Series models—Mizuno Pro S-1 and S-3—which provide compact profiles and precision shaping.[14]
Mizuno’s M.CRAFT series putters are milled from 1025 mild carbon steel and offered in multiple head shapes. Some models are supplied with weighting kits to allow customization of balance and feel.[15]
Mizuno produces golf balls such as the RB Tour, RB 566, Mizuno Pro S, and Mizuno Pro X. The RB Tour line is intended for players seeking spin control, while the RB 566 series is designed for increased carry and forgiveness. The Mizuno Pro S and Pro X models are recent additions positioned to offer tour-level performance, with construction optimized for soft feel and trajectory consistency across swing speeds.[16][17]
Mizuno is a manufacturer ofgolf clubs and accessories. Many players have played using Mizuno equipment during their careers, including 13 of the 24 players who have ever held a men's #1 ranking (as of 2022).[18]Tiger Woods used Mizuno golf clubs until he signed a deal withTitleist and turned professional in 1996, but continued to play with Mizuno clubs for his first pro year and a half while waiting for his ideal set of clubs from Titleist; notably, he won his firstMasters Tournament victory in 1997 with his Mizuno clubs.[19]
Mizuno designs running footwear to address a wide spectrum of performance needs, structured around four key categories:Speed,Bounce,Cruise, andFloat. These categories align with specific training types and help athletes select footwear that complements their goals. Mizuno’s running shoe families incorporate proprietary technologies designed to improve energy return, stability, and ride efficiency.[20]
In addition to footwear, Mizuno offers a line of performance running apparel designed for comfort, temperature regulation, and muscle support during training and competition. The collection includes moisture-wicking tops, compression tights, shorts, wind-resistant jackets, and technical accessories such as gloves and running hats.[25]
Mizuno’s apparel integrates proprietary materials and fabric technologies, including:
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