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100 Years of Sports and Mizuno - A Century of Sports

Rihachi Mizuno was born in 1884 in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, a town hit by a major earthquake in 1891. At the age of 13 he left for Osaka with the hope of rebuilding the Mizuno family fortune. At the age of 18 he saw a baseball game played by the Daisan High School baseball club and was immediately fascinated.

After returning to Osaka from service in the Russo-Japanese war, in 1906 he established Mizuno Brothers Ltd and started selling order made athletic uniforms. With a focus on production technologies, he also began to manufacture sports equipment. He hosted the Kansai Students' Federation Baseball Championship. In the same year the company began to manufacture baseball gloves and baseballs.

In 1936, on the 30th anniversary of the company's founding, Mizuno began to produce gliders under the theme of 'Sports: from land to sea and sky.' Within a few years, a Mizuno glider set the Japanese record for height and time aloft for a glider.

After the Second World War, Mizuno obtained many patents and utility model rights, and continued to manufacture products of exceptional functionality and quality. Mizuno became more actively involved with the Olympics with each of the games held in Japan - the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, and the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

As a Gold Sponsor at the Nagano Olympics, Mizuno provided the outfits (made completely of recyclable materials) for over 24,000 people, both staff and volunteers.

At Mizuno we pledge to put our wholehearted effort into building a peaceful, healthy world through the promotion of sports in the 21st century. In particular we wish to help children around the world enjoy sports and grow up healthy in body and mind.

Masato Mizuno, President, Mizuno Corporation

History of Mizuno
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.
100 Years of Mizuno The shop moves to Umeda Shinmichi in Osaka and its name is changed to Mizuno Shop.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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 trademarks.
100 Years of Mizuno 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."
100 Years of Mizuno
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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Hickory skis go on sale.
100 Years of Mizuno New headquarters building is completed in Yodoyabashi, Osaka.
1929
  • Rihachi Mizuno visits Europe and the United States.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Star Line, the first Japanese made golf clubs go on sale.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Rihachi Mizuno visiting Manchuria
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Rihachi Mizuno is awarded the Medal with a Blue Ribbon for philanthropy.
1957
  • Mizuno develops and patents an injection-molded, compressed plastic bat.
100 Years of Mizuno Mizuno develops and patents an injection-molded, compressed plastic bat.
1958
  • Hickory pack skis go on sale.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 1st Grand Monarch Golf Tournament is held.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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)
100 Years of Mizuno 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.)
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 2nd Mizuno Opinions Concert
100 Years of Mizuno Mizuno starts golf workshops in Europe.
100 Years of Mizuno Kenjiro Mizuno is awarded the Third Order of the Sacred Treasure.
1987
  • Company is reorganized into five departments.
  • Carl Lewis signs with Mizuno as an advisor.
  • 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.
  • 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Mizuno Corporation of America is established.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
  • Mizuno France SARL is established.
  • 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Mizuno signs a contract with Ryoken Kawagishi.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno New headquarters building in Osaka, Mizuno Crista, is completed on March 19 and opens on April 1.
100 Years of Mizuno Notus golf clubs go on sale and are a big hit due to a new product plan and a winning marketing strategy.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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).
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Mizuno develops revolutionary 9-point metal baseball spikes, known as Glitter.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno "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-Load 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.
100 Years of Mizuno The Mizuno Open-Load to the British Open golf tournament at Setonaikai Golf Club.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno 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.
100 Years of Mizuno Products incorporating Ice Touch cooling fabric become a big hit.
100 Years of Mizuno "Dare to Dream 2020" baseball products for the future are announced.