Mizuno has developed various sporting goods. In order to pursue unknown possibilities, Mizuno’s Research & Development Department is also endeavoring to create sporting goods using unconventional materials. This time, they tried making a baseball glove using washi^*1paper.

*1 Washi is a kind of traditional Japanese paper, processed by hand using fibers from the inner bark of the gampi tree,which is registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

The widespread adoption of digital technology has significantly enhanced the convenience of people’s lives. However, it is said that the physical properties of human beings have hardly evolved since the age of the hunters and gatherers, approximately 10,000 years ago. Nevertheless, in recent years, human augmentation has increasingly come under the spotlight as a technology and concept for developing and enhancing human ability through technological advancements.

There is no end to the desire to run “just a little faster.” This is true not only for long-distance runners competing in the Ekiden (a long-distance relay race) and marathons, but also for amateur runners who run as a hobby. Moreover, with the emergence of thick-soled shoes, the idea that “there are items that can make me run faster once I put it on” has gradually begun to take root within the consciousness of all types of runners.

Innovation in golf club technology has been remarkable in recent years, and Mizuno has developed a wide range of technology in pursuit of longer drive distances. The ST-230 Series, launched March 2023, features Mizuno’s new CORTECH CHAMBER. The significant feature of the CORTECH CHAMBER is that it efficiently increases the ball’s initial launch velocity^*1 and reduces spin rates^*1 through the stainless-steel parts encased within a TPU structure.

The visual design of a product plays a major role in motivating consumers to make a purchase, but no systematic evaluations have been conducted thus far to determine if product designs are communicated to consumers as intended. Mizuno has therefore challenged itself to develop a new method to evaluate the effectiveness of a product’s visual design.

Mizuno’s manufacturing is greatly supported by our connections to the local communities where our factories are located. The Shiso area of Hyogo Prefecture is home to Mizuno’s domestic glove production base of the Haga Factory (Mizuno Technics Corporation’s Haga Factory). The area is located along the Ibo River, which boasts abundant, beautiful flowing water, and is famous for its leather industry which has a long local tradition.

Motion analysis and player development via data-based scientific approaches have become the standard in baseball in recent years. In April 2021, Mizuno announced a collaboration with the American startup Blast Motion and launched sales in Japan of Blast Baseball, which enables baseball swing study and analysis.

When doing sports or exercising, have you experienced situations where your body cools down rapidly and warm-ups and recovery do not go smoothly? Mizuno has conducted research on the physiological effects of apparel design that warms up the major muscles, by focusing on the “temperature” of the muscles that play an important role in maintaining life activities.

Long-distance track and field events such as marathons and long-distance relay races have entered a new era with the emergence of thick-soled shoes in recent years. Based on various studies and numerous discussions, Mizuno concluded that the midfoot strike and forefoot strike are efficient landing methods for running quickly. Naturally, it is difficult to maintain an efficient landing method from start to finish.

In recent years, female athletes at competition venues and other locations are increasingly the victim of hidden photography and filming taken for illicit purposes, the images and videos of which are then disseminated over the internet. Mizuno has developed an infrared blocking fabric to help combat this illicit photography.