ASICS Launches "ASICS BASKETBALL DREAM PROJECT" to Provide Experiences for the Mental and Physical Growth of Junior Athletes

ASICS Japan has launched the "ASICS BASKETBALL DREAM PROJECT" as a new initiative in the basketball category for junior athletes. This project aims to foster the further development of the basketball world by having ASICS and its contracted athletes (the ASICS Family) work together to support the challenges and growth of junior athletes.

This project goes beyond athletic growth, such as winning competitions and breaking records. It is infused with the desire for participants to enrich their lives by facing their own goals and continuing to challenge themselves. With this philosophy, the program is structured to enhance participants' self-worth through special experiences with the ASICS Family and by choosing shoes that suit their individual play styles. The goal is to provide participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves through basketball and to inspire them to take on challenges toward their goals.

Furthermore, this program will offer opportunities to interact with professional athletes as role models, such as "playing together" and "competing against them." As the first phase of the "ASICS BASKETBALL DREAM PROJECT," an event involving ASICS Family members is scheduled to be held on July 25.

This event will invite 30 pairs (60 people) of spectators from among members of the loyalty membership program "OneASICS," and will also recruit participants for activities such as pickup games where real-time commentary from ASICS Family members can be received.

〇 ASICS BASKETBALL DREAM PROJECT Event Outline (Scheduled for July 25)

Name: ASICS BASKETBALL DREAM PROJECT

Venue: Undisclosed location in Tokyo

Date and Time: July 25, 2026 (Sat)

Scheduled Participants: Ryusei Shinoyama, Tenketsu Harimoto, Yuta Watanabe, Keisuke Masuda, Kaito Kato, Nanako Higashifuji, Kotetsu Kurokawa, Honoka Morioka

*Participating athletes may be added or changed in the future.

Attendees: Approximately 80 people (junior high school, high school, and university students) *No general public application.

Content: Opening, Special Match by ASICS Family, Pickup Game with ASICS Family and Participants, Closing

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZv49aXlLvu/

〇 Application Guidelines for OneASICS Members

Application Details:

[Prize A] Limited number of winners

- Participation rights for "Skill Experience" with ASICS FAMILY

- Participation rights for Pickup Game

- Spectator tickets for ASICS BASKETBALL DREAM PROJECT

[Prize B] 30 pairs (60 people)

- Spectator tickets for ASICS BASKETBALL DREAM PROJECT

Application Method: Applications will be accepted from OneASICS members via a dedicated application form.

https://cloud.info.asics.com/DreamProject_20260618Entry

Application Period: July 3 - July 12

*For details such as application conditions, please check the application form.

〇 Comments from Participating Athletes

<Ryusei Shinoyama>

Through this project, I want to convey the importance of being passionate about basketball and enjoying it wholeheartedly. I believe there is nothing more powerful than the energy gained from being passionate and fully committed to something.

On the day, I want it to be a time where all participants can experience the fun that comes from being serious about basketball and the growth that arises from it.

Through this experience, I hope that the participating athletes will become even more passionate about basketball and that its appeal will spread further. I hope that basketball will become an indispensable sport in Japan.

<Tenketsu Harimoto>

Through this project, I want to increase experiences that make people think, "I'm glad I discovered basketball." I believe that such accumulation will make basketball more familiar in Japan and a sport loved by many.

On the day, I want to convey the importance of challenging yourself without fear of failure, and that daily efforts accumulate to become your strength. I would be happy if they could feel through actual play that even missed shots and play failures are all experiences that lead to future growth.

Through these experiences, I expect that the participating athletes will develop a persistent attitude of challenge, leading to becoming representative players of Japan, and even supporting the entire basketball world.

<Yuta Watanabe>

I think opportunities like this project, where I can be involved while playing together, are great, and I'm looking forward to participating.

Of course, I want to convey technical aspects like what professionals think during a game and their movements, but more than that, I hope they can feel the fundamental aspects, such as the fun of basketball and the joy of moving their bodies, while playing together.

I hope that Japanese basketball will become even more competitive on the world stage in the future, and that younger generations of players will challenge themselves overseas more to gain experience. If more players achieve success with ASICS shoes, then as fellow ASICS Family members, we can lead the Japanese basketball world together. I have such a future in mind.

<Keisuke Masuda>

I am very happy to be involved in the DREAM PROJECT with ASICS. I believe that challenging something wholeheartedly, regardless of skill level, has great value, and I want this project to be an opportunity to convey that sentiment.

On the day, I want to convey the importance of taking a step forward while believing in one's own potential, cherishing the desire to "get better" and "grow more." I hope to share the experience of challenging without fear of failure and the growth gained through that accumulation while playing with everyone.

I would be happy if this becomes an opportunity for all participants to realize their own potential and continue to challenge themselves while thoroughly enjoying basketball.

<Kaito Kato>

Through basketball, I myself have had many experiences and learned the wonder of pursuing dreams. Now, I want to pass on those experiences to the next generation.

Carrying ASICS's aspirations, I will provide guidance to the children with passionate enthusiasm. I hope the children will learn what professional athletes are like, what kind of energy they possess, and get to know the "figure" of a professional basketball player. I would be happy if this project could provide them with a trigger to believe in their own potential beyond what they learn.

I will do my best to make this a special time that will be remembered by each participant in their lives, thinking, "I was able to persevere because of the words and attitudes of the athletes that day."

<Nanako Higashifuji>

Through this project, I want to convey the joy of enjoying basketball and the importance of challenging yourself with confidence in your own abilities.

On the day, I hope to make it a time that leads to personal growth through basketball. While focusing not only on improving athletic performance but also on the fundamental human aspects, I aim to create an environment where we can grow together.

Through this experience, I expect that the participating athletes will wholeheartedly enjoy basketball itself, and that this will lead to a chain reaction that positively influences those around them. I hope that basketball will be a source of energy for both those who play and those who watch.

<Kotetsu Kurokawa>

Through the DREAM PROJECT, I am happy to be able to convey the real-life aspects and daily efforts of professional athletes to the participants who will lead the next generation, together with ASICS. I hope it will be an opportunity for them to learn not only about playing but also about the processes they accumulate and the mindset with which they spend their days.

On the day, while feeling close to ASICS products, I want to convey the importance of enjoying sports and growing. I also want them to feel that professional athletes are not distant figures, that there are opportunities for anyone with a genuine desire to challenge, and that the experience of earnestly engaging in something will connect to their future lives.

Through this project, I hope that the participants will feel the importance of working hard towards their own dreams and goals. I want to convey my own experiences and thoughts as much as possible, and conversely, I believe there is much I can learn from them. Let's not be afraid of failure, let's challenge a lot, and let's grow together. I am very much looking forward to growing with all of you.

<Honoka Morioka>

I feel that this project is a valuable opportunity for athletes from different environments to gather, and I am looking forward to it being a place where I can gain many discoveries and learnings myself.

On the day, I want them to fully enjoy this opportunity and actively challenge various things. Also, I hope to create a time where participants can communicate a lot with each other and stimulate each other.

Through this experience, I would be happy if university students and the ASICS Family can absorb each other's skills and ways of thinking and become a catalyst for growth.

〇 Sound Mind, Sound Body

ASICS upholds the founding philosophy of "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano" (A Sound Mind in a Sound Body), aiming to realize a world where everyone can engage in exercise and sports throughout their lives and maintain mental and physical health.

"Sound Mind, Sound Body" is the brand slogan that represents our founding philosophy. Believing that physical activity has a positive impact on the mind, it is imbued with the wish for people to feel more connected to physical activity and to live mentally and physically healthier and more fulfilling lives.