Japan’s Asics will spin off trendy shoe brand Onitsuka Tiger

Published Wed, Jun 10, 2026 · 12:09 PM

[TOKYO] Japan’sAsics will spin off Onitsuka Tiger, the 77-year-old Japanese shoe brand that’s enjoyed a resurgence in popularity amid a tourism boom and growing global demand for retro sneakers.

Under the plan, Onitsuka Tiger business will be transferred to OT Group, a wholly owned subsidiary, via a company split that will be effective on Jan 1, 2027, the Japanese sportswear maker added in a statement on Wednesday (Jun 10). The deal does not require regulatory approval.

The company also plans to separate the Onitsuka Tiger business within its regional subsidiaries and consolidate those operations under OT Group.

Asics said that transitioning Onitsuka Tiger to a more independent operating structure would enable faster decision-making.

“In the sense that it allows them to pursue more flexible strategies, the spinoff is a positive development,” said Shoichi Arisawa, a fellow at Iwai Cosmo Securities.

First widely popularised by actress Uma Thurman in director Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films, Onitsuka Tiger started as a sport shoe brand and later became a fashion trend under parent Asics. While the label shut down its North American retail locations in 2023 to improve profitability, it unveiled a global flagship store last year on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Onitsuka Tiger has been a key growth driver for Asics in recent years. Sales of the brand jumped 43 per cent from a year earlier to 136.5 billion yen (S$1.1 billion) in the year that ended in December, buoyed by strong demand in Europe, inbound tourism to Japan and a weaker yen.

The Onitsuka Tiger business posted a profit margin of nearly 38 per cent, the highest among Asics’ five core categories.

In February, the Japanese maker of athletic and lifestyle footwear and apparel forecast another year of record profit this year.

Asics shares have risen roughly 20 per cent so far in 2026. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS