

The first modern Olympic games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896. Modern sporting events, as we think of them, first gained wide popularity in Europe and the United States around the middle of the 19th century. Western sports came to Japan after the Meiji Restoration (1868) and spread rapidly. In 1912, at the fifth Olympiad, Japan participated in the Olympic Games for the first time. In 1906, around the time modern sporting events began to gain real acceptance in Japan, Mizuno was founded as Mizuno Brothers Ltd."In the century since, Mizuno has worked steadily toward the development of sports in Japan and throughout the world.
In the history of civilization, the last 100 years has marked an age of a rise in sports-through war, conflict and the vicissitudes of politics and economics. It has been a time in which sports have played a role of immeasurable importance to humanity.
While tracing the steps that Mizuno has left in the sporting world over the last century, we wish to look at the vital role that sports have played in society and the decisive role they can play in the future.
1900s - 1910s | 1920s - 1930s | 1940s - 1950s | 1960s - 1970s | 1980s - 1990s | 2000s -
- 1906
-
- Rihachi Mizuno and his younger brother Rizo found Mizuno Brothers Ltd. in Osaka. The shop sells western sundries, including baseballs.
- 1907
-
- Sales of order-made athletic wear begin.
- 1910
-
- Sales of ready-made athletic wear begin.
- The shop moves to Umeda Shinmichi in Osaka and its name is changed to Mizuno Shop.
 |
 |
| The shop moves to Umeda Shinmichi
in Osaka and its name is changed to Mizuno Shop. |
Mizuno billboard advertising ready-made
athletic wear. |
- 1911
-
- Production of sporting goods is planned.
- Mizuno Shop sponsors Osaka Jitsugyo Baseball Championship
(predecessor of today's Inter-City Baseball Competition).
- 1912
-
 |
| Tokyo branch opens. |
- 1913
-
- Mizuno Shop sponsors Kansai Students' Federation
Baseball Competition
(predecessor of today's All-Japan
HS Baseball Championship).
- Mizuno Shop begins to manufacture baseballs and
gloves.
- Mizuno Shop moves to near Shijimibashi in Kita-ku,
Osaka.
 |
| The shop moves to near Shijimibashi
in Kita-ku, Osaka. |
- 1914
-
- Dojima Factory opens. Full-scale production of sporting goods begins.
- 1916
-
- Mizuno calls for standardization of hard baseballs.
- Mizuno Shop sponsors the Tokyo Jitsugyo Baseball Championship.
- 1917
-
- Mizuno Shop sponsors the All-Japan Jitsugyo Baseball Championship.
- Umeda Factory opens.
- Izuhi and cup marks are registered as Mizuno trademark.
 |
| Izuhi and cup marks are registered
as Mizuno trademarks. |
- 1918
-
- Mizuno begins to sell a variety of products under distinctive names, including "over sweaters,""cutter shirts,""boston bags"and "run pants."
- 1919
-
- Kobe branch opens.
- Mizuno sponsors the Tokyo Jitsugyo Tennis Championship,
Osaka Youth Baseball Tournament, and Tokyo Youth Baseball
Tournament.
- 1920
-
- Mizuno "over sweaters" become a big hit.
- Mizuno becomes representative agent for Sandstramski
(Sweden).
- 1921
-
- Planning for production of golf clubs begins.
- Main store moves to Kitahama, Osaka.
- Kyobikai specialty store (predecessor of later
Specialty Superstore) is organized.
- 1923
-
- Domestic production of skis begins.
- Company is reorganized as Mizuno Sporting Goods
Company, Ltd.
- 1924
-
- Nagoya and Kyoto branches open.
- 1925
-
- Ad campaign launched suggesting new terminology
for Japanese and foreign products.
 |
| Advertisement suggesting new terminology
for Japanese and foreign products |
- 1927
-
- Hickory skis go on sale.
- New headquarters building is completed in Yodoyabashi,
Osaka.
- The first amateur ski clubs are organized in Tokyo,
Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.
- Rihachi Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Dark
Blue Ribbon for financial contributions to public welfare.
 |
 |
| Hickory skis go on sale. |
New headquarters building is completed
in Yodoyabashi, Osaka. |
- 1929
-
- Rihachi Mizuno visits Europe and the United States.
 |
| Rihachi Mizuno visiting Western countries |
- 1931
-
- Rihachi Mizuno organizes a specialty superstore
at Osaka Station.
- The Amagasaki Minami Factory opens.
- Prince and Princess Chichibu tour the Urae Factory.
- 1933
-
- Star Line, the first Japanese made golf clubs,
go on sale.
- Ash trees for baseball bat manufacture are planted
in Fukui Pref.
- Items such as curry & rice and the "Home Run"mug
of beer make the Osaka main store cafeteria popular.
 |
 |
| Star Line, the first Japanese made
golf clubs go on sale. |
Ash trees for baseball bat manufacture
are planted in Fukui Prefecture. |
- 1934
-
- Tokyo Itabashi Factory opens.
- 1935
-
- Golf club showroom is expanded to become the world's
largest.
 |
| World's largest golf club showroom |
- 1936
-
- Production of gliders starts in commemoration of
the company's 30th anniversary.
- Four golf club models go on sale.
- 1937
-
- Mizuno starts a campaign opposing a proposal for
an 80% tariff on imported sporting goods.
- 1938
-
- Local branches are established in Shanghai, Beijing,
Tianjin, Qingdao and Dalian.
- Select Scientific Laboratory (today's Technology
Development Division) is established.
 |
| Select Scientific Laboratory (today's
Technology Development Division) |
- 1939
-
- Shanghai Mizuno Sporting Goods Company, Ltd. is
established.
- 1940
-
- 1st women's ski class opens.
- Manchuria Mizuno Industrial Company, Ltd. is established.
- Mizuno's type 301 Soarer glider sets new records
for altitude and flight duration.
 |
 |
| Rihachi Mizuno visiting Manchuria |
Mizuno's type 301 Soarer glider sets
new records for altitude and flight duration. |
- 1942
-
- Company name is changed to Mizuno Co., Ltd.
- 1943
-
 |
| Yoro Factory opens. |
- 1945
-
- Production of wooden goods restarts at Yoro Factory.
- Osaka main store and Tokyo branch reopen for business.
- Production of textile goods restarts at Urae Factory.
- 1946
-
- Mizuno donates 100,000 m2 of the Yoro Factory grounds
to the town of Yoro.
- 1949
-
- Expanded Select Scientific Laboratory becomes
the Technology Development Division.
- Prince and Princess Takamatsu visit the main store
and the Osaka Factory.
 |
| Select Scientific Laboratory is expanded
to become the Technology Development Division. |
- 1950
-
- Mizuno Kai, an association of affiliated stores,
is formed.
- Prince Takamatsu visits the Yoro Factory.
- 1951
-
- New annex to Tokyo branch is completed.
- 1953
-
- Rihachi Mizuno is appointed chairman of the Osaka
Specialty Superstore.
- 1954
-
- Rihachi Mizuno receives a commendation from the
Japan Amateur Baseball Association.
- 1955
-
- Rihachi Mizuno receives the Award of Merit from
the All Japan HS Baseball Federation.
- Senhinbu, a new marketing organization, is established.
 |
| Rihachi Mizuno receives the Award
of Merit from the All Japan HS Baseball Federation. |
- 1956
-
- Rihachi Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Blue
Ribbon for philanthropy.
- South annex to the Osaka main store is completed.
 |
| Rihachi Mizuno is awarded the Medal
with a Blue Ribbon for philanthropy. |
- 1957
-
- Mizuno develops and patents an injection-molded,
compressed plastic bat.
 |
Mizuno develops and patents an injection-molded,
compressed plastic bat. |
- 1958
-
- Hickory pack skis go on sale.
 |
| Hickory pack skis go on sale. |
- 1961
-
- Mizuno is listed on the Second Section of the Osaka
Securities Exchange.
- 1962
-
- Mizuno is listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo
Stock Exchange.
- 1st directly managed store opens in Osaka Tennoji
Station building.
- Mizuno backs a TV program to increase the number
of skiing enthusiasts.
- 1964
-
- Rihachi Mizuno gives 25 shares of Mizuno stock
to each employee.
- 1965
-
- 1st Mizuno Tournament for New Professional Golfers
is held.
- 1st Grand Monarch Golf Tournament is held.
- World's largest golf factory opens in Yoro.
- Emperor and Empress Showa tour the Yoro Factory
 |
 |
| 1st Grand Monarch Golf Tournament
is held. |
World's largest golf equipment factory
opens in Yoro. |
- 1966
-
- Mizuno signs a technical agreement with Australia's
Speedo Company for competitive swimwear.
- 1967
-
- Mizuno supports the Tokyo Universiad.
- 1968
-
- Grand Monarch golf clubs go on sale.
 |
| Grand Monarch golf clubs go on sale. |
- 1969
-
- Rihachi Mizuno is appointed Chairman, and Kenjiro
Mizuno President, of Mizuno Corporation.
- America Mizuno is established in Los Angeles.
- In-house Sapporo Olympics project is organized.
- TV show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
- 1970
-
- Mizuno dispatches pro golfers Hisako Higuchi and
Masako Sasaki to the U.S.
- Mizuno founder Rihachi Mizuno dies.
- Mizuno Sports Promotion Foundation is established.
- Rihachi Mizuno is awarded the Fourth Order of the
Sacred Treasure.
- 1st Mizuno Gold Cup National Golf Tournament is
held.
- Mizuno Taiwan Corporation is established.
- Two sports TV shows sponsored solely by Mizuno
begin.
- 1971
-
- Rihachi Mizuno is inducted into the Baseball Hall
of Fame.
- 1st Mizuno Golf Tournament is held.
- Two TV sports shows sponsored solely by Mizuno
begin.
 |
| Rihachi Mizuno is inducted into the
Baseball Hall of Fame. |
- 1972
-
- Mizuno is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo
and Osaka stock exchanges.
- TV show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
- 1973
-
- Biography of Rihachi Mizuno is published.
- Mizuno enters into ski wear technical agreements
with Olympic Giyu of France and Colmar of Italy.
- World Win golf clubs go on sale.
- 1974
-
- Mizuno Cup Slalom Competition is held.
- Skiing & Golf TV shows sponsored solely by
Mizuno begin.
- 1975
-
- Hard metal bats go on sale (soft bats on sale since
1971).
- Mizuno LPGA Japan Gold Classic opens.
- Movie Mont Blanc, a Poem of Continuing White Glaciers
wins an award from the French Minister of Tourism.
- Production begins at South Korea Mizuno.
- 1976
-
- Mizuno signs a distributorship agreement with Carly
Bates of the U.S.
- Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Dark
Blue Ribbon
(for financial contributions to the public
welfare).
- 1977
-
- Mizuno International Sports Exchange Foundation
is established.
- Mizuno golf clubs are inducted into U.S. Golf Hall
of Fame.
- Mizuno signs a contract (until 1987) with Seve
Ballesteros.
- TV variety show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
 |
| Mizuno golf clubs are enshrined in
the American Golf Hall of Fame. |
- 1978
-
- Mizuno begins workshops for U.S. Major League.
- Mizuno contracts with Major Leaguer Pete Rose.
- Mizuno becomes a Moscow Olympics official supplier.
- Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Blue
Ribbon (for philanthropy)
 |
| Mizuno begins workshops for American
Major League Baseball. |
- 1979
-
- Mizuno starts a dual-headquarters (Tokyo & Osaka)
system.
- Beijing Workers Athletic Track is completed.
- Ayama Factory for baseball manufacture opens.
- Golf tournament is held in Malaysia.
- "Superstar" sportswear goes on sale and makes a
big hit.
- Mizuno signs a technical agreement with Russel
of the U.S.
- America Mizuno Inc. is established in Dallas. (Mizuno
Golf Company takes it over in 1986.)
 |
| Beijing Workers Athletic Track is
completed. |
- 1980
-
- Mizuno introduces CIS.
- Mizuno launches new golf business ventures.
- Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Dark
Blue Ribbon
(for financial contributions to the public
welfare).
- Sales of Mizuno shoes begin in the U.S.
 |
| Introduction of CIS. |
- 1981
-
- Mizuno RunBird Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1982
-
- "Dream Baseball Products for 2001" are announced
in N.Y.
- 1st Mizuno Opinions Concert is held.
- Mizuno establishes local golf subsidiaries in the
U.S. and UK
(Mizuno Golf Company in U.S. and Mizuno
Corporation in UK).
- Fashion Center Senri Building is completed.
- Vanguard drivers, world's first with carbon heads,
go on sale.
- Mizuno introduces TQC.
 |
| Vanguard drivers, the first golf clubs
with carbon heads, go on sale. |
- 1983
-
- Mizuno starts golf workshops in the U.S.
- Mizuno Sports Fashion Awards are launched.
- RunBird athletic shoes go on sale.
- Dream skis, "Los Andes," go on sale.
 |
| Advertisement for RunBird athletic
shoes |
- 1984
-
- Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Léion d'onneur
and the Olympic Order.
- TV variety show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
 |
| Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Léion
d'onneur and the Olympic Order. |
- 1985
-
- Mizuno serves as an official supplier for the Kobe
Universiad.
- MINT network for online inventory management and
order processing is launched.
- TV variety show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
- 1986
-
- Mizuno signs a distributorship agreement with Easton
Sports.
- Mizuno supports the Asian Games in Seoul.
- 2nd Mizuno Opinions Concert is held.
- Yoro Factory is expanded.
- Mizuno starts golf workshops in Europe.
- Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Third Order of the
Sacred Treasure
- Two TV variety shows sponsored solely by Mizuno
begin.
 |
 |
 |
| 2nd Mizuno Opinions Concert |
Mizuno starts golf workshops in Europe. |
Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Third
Order of the Sacred Treasure. |
- 1987
-
- Company is reorganized into five departments.
- Mizuno standardizes the representation of its corporate
name,
eliminating orthographic variants in Japanese.
- Mizuno Corporation Niederlassung Deutschland is
established.
- S-NET sports industry network is developed.
- TV variety show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
- 1988
-
- Fitness Business Division is established.
- Yomiuri Giants adopt RunBird shoes.
- Resort sports facility opens on the grounds of
Hotel Nikko Saipan.
- Kenjiro Mizuno is appointed Chairman and Masato
Mizuno President.
- Mizuno Sports Inc. is established in the U.S.
- Tennis club opens in Yamanashi Pref. on a provisional
basis.
- Mizuno signs a contract with Florence Joyner.
- All Blacks rugby team (New Zealand) signs on Mizuno
as a supplier.
 |
| Mizuno's tennis club |
- 1989
-
- Mizuno Corporation of America is established.
- Five factories are reorganized as independent subsidiaries.
- Thai Sports Garment Co., Ltd., a joint venture
with the Thai Saha Group, is established to manufacture
sportswear.
- Mizuno Sporting Goods Limited Liability Company
is reorganized as a joint venture with Taipei Trade.
- South Side Court, a condominium with a fitness
club, opens in Osaka.
- 1st Mizuno Tokyo Open Golf Tournament is held.
- Production of baseball gloves begins in China.
 |
 |
| Mizuno Corporation of America is established. |
1st Mizuno Tokyo Open Golf Tournament
is held. |
- 1990
-
- Mizuno signs a contract with professional golfer
Ryoken Kawagishi.
- Ti-110 and Ti-120, the world's first golf clubs
incorporating pure titanium, go on sale.
- Mizuno signs a contract with Ivan Lendl.
- Mexico Mizuno begins full-scale production of caddie
bags.
- Mizuno becomes an official sponsor, contracting
with the Barcelona Olympics Organizing Committee.
- 3rd Mizuno Opinions Concert is held.
- POS system is implemented.
- Local offices open (Morioka, Kagoshima, Okinawa,
Nagano).
- Mizuno's metal bats are found to be defective.
- Festa Port shop opens in Tenpozan, Osaka.
- Mizuno Opinions Concert is held at Japan Olympic
Forum.
- Mizuno France SARL is established.
- Mizuno displays a full-scale exhibit at the ISPO
trade show.
- In collaboration with CCJ, Mizuno enters the golf
country club consulting business.
- Mizuno becomes an official supplier of skis to
the Yugoslavia Ski Federation.
- New corporate philosophy and long-term management
policy are announced.
- Mizuno signs an agreement with the Unified German
Speed Skating Federation.
 |
 |
| Mizuno signs a contract with Ryoken
Kawagishi. |
Ti-110 and Ti-120, the world's first
golf clubs incorporating pure titanium. |
- 1991
-
- Yugoslavian athlete Sarench wins third place in
the 4th competition at the World Cup using Mizuno skis
(A first for Japanese-made skis to be part of an award
ceremony).
- Mizuno's Scotland factory begins operations.
- Mizuno becomes an official supplier of sportswear
to the Canadian Athletics Federation.
- Tour Simulator, a computerized golf simulation
system, is developed.
- Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Dark
Blue Ribbon
(for financial contributions to the public
welfare).
- Mizuno signs a contract with Nick Faldo.
- Mizuno Sports Mentor Award and Sportswriter Award
are established.
- Mizuno Open golf tournament begins to hold separate
gender games.
- Sales company, Mizuno Canada Ltd. is established.
- Mizuno signs a contract with the J. League establishment
preparation office to develop and supply uniforms for
all 10 teams and to support their publicity.
 |
| Mizuno Sports Mentor Award and Sportswriter
Award are established. |
- 1992
-
- Mizuno launches an environmental project, Crew
21
(Conservation of Resources and Environment Wave).
- Mizuno World Ladies '92, the first int'l women's
tennis competition in the Kansai region, opens.
- New headquarters building in Osaka, Mizuno Crista,
is completed (Mar. 19) and opens (Apr. 1).
- Dept. No. 5 is upgraded to Div. No. 5 with newly
established golf, golf wear, and golf course business
departments.
- Notus golf clubs go on sale and are a big hit due
to a new product plan and a winning marketing strategy.
- Mizuno increases activities in global environment
preservation.
- Switch to recycled paper bags from boxes for sportswear
is announced.
- New products are developed: table tennis tables
made from recycled paper and baseball bases manufactured
without the use of chlorofluorocarbons.
 |
 |
 |
| New headquarters building in Osaka,
Mizuno Crista, is completed on March 19 and opens on
April 1. |
Notus golf clubs go on sale and are
a big hit due to a new product plan and a winning marketing
strategy. |
Collapsible plastic container
Plastic box |
- 1993
-
- Mizuno Corporation of Hong Kong Ltd., a production
management company for the Asian region, begins operations.
- Mizuno develops and supplies uniforms and other
equipment to all 10 J. League teams.
- Mizuno RunBird begins operations at a new factory.
- Tennis star Shuzo Matsuoka becomes a racket advisor.
- Official J. League shop J. Station begins with
698 locations nationwide.
- Mizuno signs agreements with the Lillehammer Olympic
Organizing Committee and JOC to become an official
sponsor of 17th Winter Olympics.
- S-NET launches a POS data analysis service.
- Mizuno products are displayed in the IOC museum.
- At 4th IAAF World Championship in Athletics (Stuttgart),
Mizuno supplies products to contracted athletes and
provides a service center on site. Athletes wearing
Mizuno sportswear and shoes shine (5 gold, 3 silver,
6 bronze, 14 in total for sportswear; 14 gold, 12 silver,
11 bronze, 37 in total for shoes).
- Shuzo Matsuoka becomes a tennis wear advisor.
- The Book of Sports Shoes is published by the Mizuno
Sports Shoe Research Society.
- 1994
-
- Shuzo Matsuoka signs a contract to use Mizuno shoes.
He tours using Mizuno racquets, tennis wear, and shoes.
- Mizuno develops the innovative heat-generating
material Breath Thermo jointly with Toyobo. It is used
in the official uniforms worn by the Japanese delegation
to the Lillehammer Olympics.
- Shanghai Mizuno Corporation Ltd. is established
as a joint venture with Shanghai Cultural Goods Company.
 |
| Advertisement for the innovative new
heat-retaining material Breath Thermo |
- 1995
-
- Production of Mizuno sportswear in China begins.
- Mizuno local subsidiaries in Britain and Germany
are reorganized as branches. The HQ starts to control
all operations in Europe, except France.
- Ichiro (Orix) and Hideki Matsui (Giants) sign
on with Mizuno as advisors.
- TV variety show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
- Development of golf "hub stations"begins.
- "Hammer Price" and "Dream Round Fair" sales campaigns
kick off.
- Mizuno signs on as an official sponsor in Japan
for the Atlanta Olympics.
- First country club managed by Mizuno opens.
- Mizuno signs on as an official supplier for the
Atlanta Olympics.
- Slovenian competitor Andrei Miklavich wins the
second men's slalom competition in the World Cup with
Mode skis from Mizuno.
- T-Zoid worldwide model golf club goes on sale (in
Dec. in Europe & America, in Mar. 1996 in Japan).
 |
| T-Zoid worldwide model golf club goes
on sale. |
- 1996
-
- Akiko Fukushima (NEC) signs on with Mizuno as an
advisor.
- 4th Mizuno Opinions Concert is held.
- Mizuno Int'l Sports Fashion Awards and "sporty
musical" Dancer are staged in Tokyo and Osaka (in commemoration
of the company's 90th anniversary).
- Mizuno Web site goes online.
- Mizuno develops revolutionary 9-point metal baseball
spikes known as Glitter. Professional baseball players
use them from pre-season games, and sales start in
August.
- Mizuno opens two directly managed retail shops
in Shanghai to enter the Chinese sports market.
- Cat Plus, running shoes with enhanced forefoot
functionality, goes on sale.
 |
 |
| Mizuno develops revolutionary 9-point
metal baseball spikes, known as Glitter. |
Mizuno develops Cat Plus, running
shoes with enhanced forefoot functionality. |
- 1997
-
- Mizuno dissolves Mizuno Corporation of America
and establishes a new subsidiary, Mizuno USA, Inc.
- Shanghai Mizuno Corporation Ltd. becomes a key
production facility by starting production of golf
clubs in addition to baseball gloves and sportswear.
- Osaka Shimbun serializes (in 72 installments) a
novel based on the life of Kenjiro Mizuno.
- Workshops at U.S. Major League spring training
camps resume.
- Using Mizuno Mode skis, Russian Zelenskaya wins
the 5th, 6th and 7th women's downhill at the World
Cup ski championships.
- Yoro Factory obtains ISO 14001 environmental management
and inspection certification.
- "Mizuno International" line of worldwide model
athletic wear goes on sale. Sales are extended to America,
Europe, and the rest of Asia in 1998.
- Mizuno iron golf clubs are top in 4 categories
on the PGA Tour: percentage of use by all players,
number of tournaments won annually, rate of use by
top ten, and annual total prize money.
- "Mizuno Wave" shoes with improved stability and
cushioning are developed. In December 2 product versions
go on sale in Japan, the U.S., and Europe.
 |
| "Mizuno International" line of worldwide
model athletic wear goes on sale. (Photo is the catalog.) |
- 1998
-
- Gianfranco Ferré Golf line goes on sale.
- Mizuno creates a separate label for its environmentally
friendly products. In June 1998, 3 products are included:
running shoes using artificial leather made from recycled
plastic bottles, golf grips made from used rubber,
and walking shoes made from used tire rubber
(Number
of products increases to 6 by July 1999).
- Tekuteku Walk display areas are set up in 100 stores
throughout Japan.
- Mizuno Open-Road to the British Open golf tournament
opens at the Setonaikai Golf Club.
- Mizuno signs with the IOC as an official supplier
of sportswear.
- Eco Marketing Project is launched to promote the
development and marketing of environmentally friendly
products.
- Dare to Dream baseball products sales promotion
campaign succeeds greatly in its second year in the
U.S.
- TV show sponsored solely by Mizuno begins.
- Baseball glove maker Nobuyoshi Tsubota receives
the Ministry of Labor's "Contemporary Master Craftsman" award.
- Underwear made of the heat-generating material
Breath Thermo becomes a big hit.
- Mizuno iron golf clubs are the most popular choice
on the American and European PGA Tours.
- Mizuno signs with the JOC as an official sponsor.
 |
 |
| The Mizuno Open-Road to the British
Open golf tournament at Setonaikai Golf Club. |
Baseball glove maker Tsubota receives "Contemporary
Master Craftsman"award. |
- 1999
-
- Mizuno signs with the Sydney Olympic Committee
as an official provider.
- "Health-focused" product development and marketing
efforts are strengthened.
- Two TV sports shows sponsored solely by Mizuno
begin.
- Chairman Kenjiro Mizuno dies on April 15.
- Mizuno's golf club production system receives ISO
9001 certification.
- Akiko Fukushima wins her first USPGA tournament.
- Mizuno Pro 300S titanium golf clubs go on sale
and are acclaimed for their distance.
- New offices are established for environmental policy
and legal affairs.
- Mizuno accepts orders to produce sportswear made
of 6 completely recyclable nylons, fabrics used in
items supplied for the Nagano Olympics.
- Mizuno employee Hideharu Miyahira is 3rd in the
large hill and 2nd in the normal hill event at the
World Ski Jump Championships.
 |
| Mizuno's golf club production system
receives ISO 9001 certification. |
- 2000
-
- Speedo Fastskin low-resistance swimsuit makes a
big splash.
- New office of environment and fitness marketing
is established.
- Products incorporating Ice Touch cooling fabric
become a big hit.
- Baseball products for the future are announced
as part of the Dare to Dream 2020 line.
- Mizuno signs to supply shoes to New Zealand's Wallabies
rugby team.
- Two TV sports shows sponsored solely by Mizuno
begin.
- Mizuno's advisor, Gezahegne Abera wins an Olympic gold medal wearing Mizuno Marathon shoes.
 |
 |
| Products incorporating
Ice Touch cooling fabric become a big hit. |
"Dare to Dream 2020" baseball products
for the future are announced. |
- 2001
-
- New office of e-marketing is established.
- Two TV shows sponsored solely by Mizuno begin.
- Mizuno supplies uniforms for the Japanese track & field
team. They debut at the East Asian Games held May 19
to 27.
- Masato Mizuno is awarded the Olympic Order.
- Koji Murofushi of the Sports Promotion Department
wins the silver in the men's hammer throw at the 8th
IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Edmonton,
Canada, August 3 to 12.
- Gezahegne Abera becomes the World Champion in marathon in Mizuno shoes.
- 2002
-
- All Mizuno facilities in Japan receive ISO 14001
certification.
- Yoro Factory is reorganized as a subsidiary, Mizuno
Technics Corporation, and meets the environmental target
of zero emissions.
- Beyond Max, the industry's first carbon bat for
rubber baseball, goes on sale.
- Wellness Sports Division is established.
 |
 |
 |
| The Yoro Factory meets its target
of zero emissions. |
Beyond Max, the industry's first carbon
bat for rubber baseball, goes on sale. |
Espace Mizuno service center at the
Salt Lake City Olympics |
- 2003
-
- Megastore Sales Division is established.
- All of Mizuno affiliated factories in Japan achieve
their target of "zero emissions".
- At the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics
in Paris, Murofushi and Suetsugu win bronze in the
hammer throw and 200 m, respectively.
- Bat maker Isokazu Kubota receives the Ministry
of Labor's "Contemporary Master Craftsman" award.
 |
| Bat maker Isokazu Kubota receives
the Ministry of Labor's "Contemporary Master Craftsman" award. |
- 2004
-
- Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima signs with Mizuno as an advisor.
- Mizuno recalls its Intage golf clubs for free repairs.
- First directly managed flagship store opens in
Shenyang, China.
- Masato Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Blue
Ribbon (for philanthropy).
- Mizuno enters into partnership agreement with International
Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
- CSR department is established.
- Masato Mizuno is honored by the World Olympians
Association.
- Argentine soccer star Pablo Aimar (Valencia) signs
with Mizuno as an advisor.
 |
 |
| Mizuno enters into partnership agreement
with the IAAF. |
Masato Mizuno is awarded the Medal
with a Blue Ribbon (for philanthropy). |
- 2005
-
- New baseball for professional baseball games goes
on sale.
- Mizuno supports the IAAF World Championships in
Athletics in Helsinki as an official partner of the
IAAF. In women's 5000m race, Mizuno's ambassadors Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar from Ethiopia claims 1st and 2nd with Mizuno shoes.
- Cross Eight golf balls go on sale and are extremely
popular.
- JPX golf clubs go on sale. Their "raw titanium" feel
gets rave reviews.
- Mizuno supports the World Judo Championship in
Cairo as an official supplier to the Japan team. The
team's judo wear bears the Mizuno RunBird logo.
- Mizuno signs a contract with China's Liaoning table
tennis team.
- Team Mizuno Athletics is launched.
- Women's Factory Project is launched.
 |
 |
| New baseball for professional baseball
games goes on sale. |
Cross Eight golf balls go on sale
and are extremely popular. |
 |
|
| JPX golf clubs go on sale. Their "Law
titanium" feel gets rave reviews. |
|
- 2006
-
- Brand marks integrated in order to establish
a new 100 year brand.
- 2007
-
- Mizuno China Headquarters established in the suburbs
of Shanghai.
- The 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics
Osaka 2007 supported as an official partner.
- Official supplier contract signed with the Japan
Gymnastic Association.