ASICS Launches Luxurious "Japan Collection"

After recently equipping the GEL-Kayano 5 360 with resilient GORE-TEX fabric, ASICS has now given its GEL-Kayano 25, Metarun SPS, and GEL-Kinsei lavish makeovers for a new “Japan Collection.”

It’s a well-known fact that ASICS makes some of the world’s most technologically advanced running footwear. However, the three high-performance running silhouettes in this pack are all heading off the track and taking a walk on the lifestyle side.

Kicking things off is the modern-day GEL-Kayano 25. Boasting a navy blue upper constructed of luxe Kobe leather, the design is meticulously etched and embossed to display its striking lines in a bold new fashion. Performance isn’t forgotten however, as the FlyteFoam midsole and GEL cushioning system remain intact, ensuring the cloud-like feel the Kayano is known for.

Meanwhile, the Metarun SPS serves as a reintroduction to a high-end runner from 2015 and is crafted from fine Japanese white leather that was hand-tanned in Himeji. Pops of gold and red are then worked in to keep its sporty ethos intact.

Finally, the GEL-Kinsei — the longest-tenured of the bunch, as it first released in 2000 — is presented in the same Kobe leather as the Kayano 25. Crafted from rich navy leather and featuring a signature six-pronged GEL cushioning system on the heel, it rounds off the collection both literally and figuratively.

All three pairs are available now via asics.com/jp. The Kayano retails at ¥29,700 (approx. $273 USD) the Metarun at ¥39,600 (approx. $364 USD) and the Kinsei at ¥35,200 (approx. $323 USD). This isn’t all we’ll see from the “Japan Collection” either, as ASICS has more recrafted makeups on the way later this season.

In other running footwear news, the IAAF is set to investigate Nike’s ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% after claims by professional runners that they provide an unfair race day advantage.