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Mizuno

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Mizuno (disambiguation).
Mizuno Corporation
Native name
ミズノ株式会社 / 美津濃株式会社
Mizuno Kabushiki-gaisha
Company typePublic (K.K.)
TYO: 8022
IndustrySports equipment
FoundedApril 1, 1906; 119 years ago (1906-04-01)[1]
FounderRihachi Mizuno
Rizo Mizuno
HeadquartersSuminoe, Osaka, Japan
Key people
Akito Mizuno [jp] (President)[2]
Products
RevenueJPY 148,703,000,000 (2010)[3]
JPY 1,406,000,000 (2010)[3]
Number of employees
5,368 (2013)
Websitemizuno.com (Corporate website)
Mizuno Wave Ultima 11 running shoe

Mizuno Corporation (ミズノ株式会社, legally 美津濃株式会社, Mizuno Kabushiki-gaisha) (TYO: 8022) is a Japanese sports equipment and sportswear company, founded in Osaka in 1906 by Rihachi Mizuno. Today, Mizuno is a global corporation which makes a wide variety of sports equipment and sportswear for table tennis, boxing, badminton, golf, baseball, mixed martial arts, association football, gridiron football, futsal, judo, rugby, running, skiing, athletics, swimming, tennis, handball, volleyball and netball.

History

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Mizuno was founded in 1906 as Mizuno Brothers, Ltd. by Rihachi Mizuno and his younger brother Rizo, in Osaka. The shop sold Western-world sundries, including baseballs, and then in 1907 began to sell order-made athletic wear. In 1910 the shop moved to Umeda-Shinmichi and its name was changed to Mizuno Shop. In 1913 the firm began to manufacture baseballs and gloves. In 1933 Mizuno presented Star Line, the first Japanese made golf clubs. By 1935 its golf club showroom was the world's largest. In 1941 the company name was changed to Mizuno Co., Ltd, and has remained the same since. During World War II, Mizuno manufactured military ordnance for Japan's war effort.[4]

The first American factory was established in Los Angeles, under the denomination American Mizuno in 1961. During the following years, Mizuno signed sponsorship deals with some of the most prominent personalities in sports, such as track and field athlete Carl Lewis,[5] the All Blacks rugby team, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana for most of his years in the NFL, the Manu Samoa rugby team, Czech tennis player Ivan Lendl, and golf player Nick Faldo and baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.

To gain a foothold in the baseball glove market in the United States, the mobile "Mizuno Baseball Workshop" was introduced in the late 1970s to service major league clubs during spring training in Arizona and Florida. The forty-foot (12 m) van contained extensive leather-working equipment and was operated by two skilled Japanese craft workers who could produce made-to-order gloves and repair all brands.[6]

The company also expanded its operation centres opening new factories in Germany, France, China, Scotland and Hong Kong.

In 2023, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s Madrid Yearly Review ranked Mizuno's number of marks applications filled under the Madrid System as 8th in the world, with 79 trademarks applications submitted during 2023.[7]

Aircraft

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To commemorate the company's 30th anniversary, the company began manufacturing gliders in 1936.[8] Among the company's military design efforts included the Mizuno Shinryu, a proposed rocket-powered interceptor that never left the prototyping stages, and the Mizuno MXZ1, a training glider.[9]

Golf Equipment

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Mizuno is a manufacturer of golf clubs and accessories. Its equipment range includes drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters, with prominent product lines such as the JPX and Mizuno Pro series. The JPX series — including JPX925 Hot Metal, Forged, and Tour models — is designed for a wide range of golfers, while the Mizuno Pro irons (models 241, 243, and 245) are forged and tailored for advanced players. The company’s custom fitting services leverage its Shaft Optimizer 3D technology to recommend club configurations based on swing data.[10][11]

Clubs

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JPX Series: JPX irons, such as the JPX925 Hot Metal, Forged, and Tour models, are designed for a range of players and balance ball speed, forgiveness, and distance control. JPX drivers feature technologies such as Cortech chambers and adjustable weighting systems intended to influence launch conditions.[12]

Mizuno Pro Series: Forged irons in this series, including the Mizuno Pro 241, 243, and 245, are designed with traditional blade-style aesthetics and are used by some professional golfers.[13] Mizuno also offers Signature Series models—Mizuno Pro S-1 and S-3—which provide compact profiles and precision shaping.[14]

Putters

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Mizuno’s M.CRAFT series putters are milled from 1025 mild carbon steel and offered in multiple head shapes. Some models are supplied with weighting kits to allow customization of balance and feel.[15]

Golf Balls

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Mizuno produces golf balls such as the RB Tour, RB 566, Mizuno Pro S, and Mizuno Pro X. The RB Tour line is intended for players seeking spin control, while the RB 566 series is designed for increased carry and forgiveness. The Mizuno Pro S and Pro X models are recent additions positioned to offer tour-level performance, with construction optimized for soft feel and trajectory consistency across swing speeds.[16][17]

Golf

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Mizuno is a manufacturer of golf clubs and accessories. Many players have played using Mizuno equipment during their careers, including 13 of the 24 players who have ever held a men's #1 ranking (as of 2022).[18] Tiger Woods used Mizuno golf clubs until he signed a deal with Titleist and turned professional in 1996, but continued to play with Mizuno clubs for his first pro year and a half while waiting for his ideal set of clubs from Titleist; notably, he won his first Masters Tournament victory in 1997 with his Mizuno clubs.[19]

Running Apparel and Footwear

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Footwear

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Mizuno designs running footwear to address a wide spectrum of performance needs, structured around four key categories: Speed, Bounce, Cruise, and Float. These categories align with specific training types and help athletes select footwear that complements their goals. Mizuno’s running shoe families incorporate proprietary technologies designed to improve energy return, stability, and ride efficiency.[20]

  • Speed: Built for propulsion and performance in racing or tempo runs. This category includes models such as the Wave Rebellion and Wave Rebellion Pro, which feature carbon-infused Wave Plates and Enerzy Lite foam for responsive cushioning and efficient forward motion. Mizuno’s nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT midsoles, introduced in recent versions, enhance softness, rebound, and comfort.[21]
  • Bounce: Focused on energetic cushioning for daily training. Models like the Neo Vista and Neo Zen use Enerzy foam midsoles to support a smooth and lively ride.[22]
  • Cruise: Geared toward everyday comfort and support. The Wave Rider and Wave Inspire feature Mizuno’s Wave Plate technology and balanced cushioning for stable, comfortable daily mileage.[23]
  • Float: Tailored for recovery and long-distance efforts. The Wave Sky and Wave Horizon emphasize plush cushioning with Enerzy Core and Enerzy NXT foams, and high-stack midsoles designed to deliver a soft, floating stride.[24]

Apparel

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In addition to footwear, Mizuno offers a line of performance running apparel designed for comfort, temperature regulation, and muscle support during training and competition. The collection includes moisture-wicking tops, compression tights, shorts, wind-resistant jackets, and technical accessories such as gloves and running hats.[25]

Mizuno’s apparel integrates proprietary materials and fabric technologies, including:

  • DryLite™: A moisture management fabric that wicks perspiration away from the body and accelerates evaporation, helping maintain dryness during high-output efforts.[26]
  • Dry AeroFlow™: Engineered to increase airflow and reduce sweat buildup, improving breathability in warm or humid conditions.
  • Thermal Charge™: A technology used in select garments to apply localized warmth to major muscle groups, aimed at enhancing performance and recovery in cold-weather environments.

References

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  1. ^ "Corporate Data, 2010 Fact Book" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
  2. ^ Board of directors Archived 2022-07-05 at the Wayback Machine on Mizuno Corp., 30 Sep 2019
  3. ^ a b "Corporate Data, 2010 Fact Book, financial section" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  4. ^ "The Best Mizuno Running Shoes". 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. ^ "CARL LEWIS' JUMP SPONSORED BY . . ". Chicago Tribune. 1992-07-25. Archived from the original on 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  6. ^ "Made-to-order baseball gloves". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. March 7, 1979. p. 3B. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Madrid Yearly Review 2024" (PDF). p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  8. ^ "MIZUNO". Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  9. ^ "Aircraft of Imperial Japanese Navy". zenibo-milimania.world.coocan.jp. 2003-08-21. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  10. ^ "Best Mizuno Irons 2025". Golf Monthly. 23 July 2025. Archived from the original on 22 May 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Mizuno Shaft Optimizer". Barla Golf Academy. 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2024-06-22. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  12. ^ "Mizuno announces 2025 JPX925 Irons". GolfWRX. 2025-07-12.
  13. ^ "Club Junkie Review: Mizuno Pro 241, 243, and 245 Irons". GolfWRX. 2025-01-08. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  14. ^ "Mizuno Pro Signature Series: S-1 and S-3 Irons". Golfweek. 2025-01-07.
  15. ^ "Mizuno M.CRAFT X Putters: What You Need to Know". Golf Digest. 2024-08-14. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  16. ^ "Mizuno RB Tour Golf Ball Review". Golf Monthly. 2024-03-06. Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  17. ^ "Mizuno RB566 Golf Ball Review". Golf Monthly. 2024-03-06.
  18. ^ "Mizuno Major Talent - The Next Generation". Mizuno Golf Canada. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Tiger Woods to switch to Nike irons soon". Golf Today. May 2002. Archived from the original on 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  20. ^ "Mizuno Wave Rebellion review". Believe in the Run. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  21. ^ "Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro review". Believe in the Run. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  22. ^ "Mizuno Neo Vista review". Believe in the Run. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  23. ^ "Mizuno Wave Rider 28 review". RunRepeat. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  24. ^ "Mizuno Wave Horizon 8 review". Doctors of Running. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  25. ^ "Mizuno Running Apparel Review". Believe in the Run. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  26. ^ "Know Your Tech: Mizuno DryLite". Complex. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
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