Materiality
Equality and diversity through sports

Basic Concepts

Mizuno is advancing the research and development of products and services that enable diverse individuals to enjoy exercise and sports together, transcending differences such as age, gender, and physical disability.

Research and development of products and services for diverse individuals to enjoy exercise and sports together

Mizuno conducts research into ways to run and walk with less physical burden and is engaged in developing products designed to enable easier running and walking.
In addition, to develop products that reduce the burden placed on the human body, Mizuno pursues the following types of research and development.

Trolley bags that make walking easier (reduce wrist and arm burden)
Mizuno’s trolley bags allow walking straight despite small differences in level because their handles are L-shaped and transfer power equally to the wheels when the carrier leans forward to proceed. When the carrier is walking uphill, holding the L-shaped handle at an angle allows reducing 40% of his / her wrist muscle burden compared to when the handle is held vertically.

image:Trolley bags that make walking easier

image:Knee supporter ”Good Moving Knee Supporter”

Knee supporter "Good Moving Knee Supporter" (reduces knee burden)
Mizuno’s support gear is equipped with built-in flex tube bones that reduce the wobbling of the knee and thereby ensure stability. In addition, because they are originally "dynamotion-fit" designed by Mizuno, they do not slip off easily and thereby can be comfortably worn.
Carbon white cane "MizunoCane ST" (Enhanced Comfort and Safety)
In March 2022, Mizuno released the straight-type white cane "MizunoCane ST," utilizing carbon design and processing technologies honed in the development of sports equipment. This cane is designed with increased stiffness near the handle, making it easier for users to detect uneven surfaces.Additionally, a teardrop-shaped tip at the end that comes into contact with the ground minimizes snagging on road surfaces. The cane was developed in collaboration with the general incorporated association PLAYERS^*1, and manufactured by Mizuno Technics Corporation^*2.
The "MizunoCane ST" was honored with the Good Design Award for fiscal year 2022 (sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion), and it also received the Excellence Award in the "2022 Nikkei Superior Products and Services Awards.

For more details, please refer to the link here: Link
For information about the Good Design Award, please see here as well: Link

^*1. A prototyping team with the slogan "Be excited together to address issues in society"
https://www.players.or.jp (in Japanese)

^*2. A Mizuno Group company that manufactures sporting goods and carbon products
https://www.mizuno-technics.co.jp/ (in Japanese)

Carbon white cane "MizunoCane ST"

Support for sports for the physically challenged

To create opportunities for the physically challenged to actively enjoy sports, Mizuno puts effort into developing and offering sports equipment designed for the physically challenged and provides athletes and teams with support.

Development of a plate spring for sports prostheses

Since 2016, Mizuno, in collaboration with Imasen Engineering Corporation, has been working on developing carbon sports foot prosthesis plate springs for track-and-field events, leveraging their expertise in carbon design and processing technology. This carbon plate spring is designed for all kinds of short-distance track-and-field athletes, from beginners to top athletes, and it was developed by examining and reexamining the distribution of rigidity of the entire plate spring in order to respond to athletes’ need for plate-spring deformation and repulsion, and this was done based on data gathered by analyzing athletes’ motion when running, the relation between plate-spring deformation and load, and the plate-spring structure. In addition, effort was put into making the plate spring as light as possible so that it could be used with ease.

In September 2020, Mizuno and Imasen Engineering Corporation jointly developed a carbon sports foot prosthetic plate spring called KATANAΣ (katana sigma), featuring a hole in the middle tip part of the plate spring to reduce air resistance. By adding an air hole from the contact area where the spike pins are located to the upper part, the hole allows for a 31% reduction in air resistance.^*1 The mass of this plate spring is about 15% lighter than previous models, and its moment of inertia, which indicates ease of swinging, is designed to be about 10% smaller.^*2

^*1. Compared with plate springs without an air hole. The comparison was based on an experiment conducted by Mizuno, using wind tunnel experimental equipment. In the experiment, the wind was set at 18.2 m/s, and participants swung out their prosthesis legs. Measurements were made when the foot plate springs, being swung, reached their maximum speed (when the foot plate springs were tilted forward 30 degrees perpendicular).

^*2. Compared with previous models. The comparison was based on an experiment conducted by Mizuno, using a moment-of-inertia measuring instrument.In the experiment, measurements were made at a position 460 mm above ground and 80 mm forward from where the plate springs are attached, being set as the knee rotation axis.

KATANAΣ (katana sigma), a sports plate spring jointly developed by Imasen Engineering Corporation and Mizuno

For entry-level sports prostheses

In September 2021, Mizuno, in collaboration with Imasen Engineering Corporation, jointly developed a carbon plate spring called "KATANAα" (katana alpha) for entry-level sports prostheses. Utilizing the know-how gained from creating competition-grade plate springs, this new model is designed as a lightweight and easy-to-use plate spring for those who are running with prosthetic legs for the first time. By attaching a dedicated sole, it replicates the same spring characteristics as the top models. Furthermore, KATANAα can be easily switched from regular prosthetic legs, and is more affordably priced compared to conventional competition models.
In Japan, there are approximately 60,000 lower limb amputees^*3. According to a survey by the Tetsudo Kosaikai Foundation Prosthetics and Orthotics Support Center, around 30% of users who had prosthetic legs made at the facility expressed an interest in trying competition prosthetics.
Mizuno, along with Imasen Engineering Corporation, will continue their research and development efforts in the field of sports prosthetic plate springs, supporting the sports lives of lower limb amputees, and contributing towards enhancing health and welfare.

^*3. Source: The 2006 Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Survey of Childhood and Adult Disability

KATANAα (katana alpha) jointly developed by Imasen Engineering Corporation and Mizuno For children (left) and for adults (right)

Future issues to be addressed

The Mizuno Group has business bases in 12 countries and regions overseas and has been globally expanding the Mizuno brand, while also promoting sports promotion activities rooted in each region. Going forward, we will continue to expand our efforts to contribute to the realization of a peaceful society through the power of sports, and to bring smiles to people and children all over the world.

Additionally, we will utilize the technology and materials cultivated in the field of competitive sports to strive towards a society where everyone can enjoy moving their bodies and a world where we can contribute to solving social issues through the power of sports.

Materiality Equality and diversity through sports