Onitsuka Tiger celebrates its 75th anniversary with major events in Paris and Tokyo. The iconic sneaker and sportswear brand, known for blending tradition with modernity, has created a series of unique experiences to mark this milestone.
In Paris, the Onitsuka Tiger Hotel on the Champs Élysées will be the focal point of the celebrations. This magnificent 18th-century palazzo, normally closed to the public, has been transformed into a multi-purpose venue in the brand’s signature bright yellow. Designed to look like a hotel, the space includes reception areas and rooms filled with Onitsuka Tiger-branded merchandise. Though it won’t offer overnight accommodations, the venue will serve as a hub for exhibitions and lifestyle activities through August 17th. According to the brand, the location will be the home of a new Onitsuka Tiger flagship store in the city that will open in 2025.
“We are extremely proud to be celebrating Onitsuka Tiger’s 75th anniversary, a milestone that reflects our constant commitment to innovation and quality. For the past seven decades we have worked to combine tradition and modernity, offering our clients products that embody our vision hinged on comfort and innovative design while respecting our artisanal heritage. Looking ahead we are committed to keep launching new projects with passion and ambition to inspire present and future generations, in sync with our founder’s visions and principles that inspired him to establish Onitsuka Tiger 75 years ago,” said Ryoji Shoda, Chief Executive Officer of Onitsuka Tiger.
The hotel hosts a variety of cultural events featuring artists such as Grammy Award-winning pianist Yuja Wang and Michelin-starred chef Yoji Tokuyoshi; Tokyo-born, Paris-raised singer, songwriter and flutist Maïa Barouh; and Yutaro Inagaki, a young London-based artist and painter.
Visitors will be able to explore exhibitions showcasing the brand’s evolution, including archival shoe designs and an installation dedicated to founder Kihachiro Onitsuka in the “Heritage Room,” which features some of his key designs, including the Mexico 66 sneaker.
Visitors can also indulge in Japanese cuisine at the Yellow Tiger Cafè on the hotel’s terrace.
The Tokyo celebrations will run from August 9th-25th. The event will feature a photo exhibition of 75 shoe styles and artwork inspired by the brand. An exclusive capsule collection of five reinterpreted shoe designs will be available, each representing a pivotal moment in the brand’s history.
Onitsuka Tiger’s celebrations began earlier this year with a collaboration with ”Astro Boy,” Japan’s first anime television series. The collection includes ready-to-wear and footwear, and was accompanied by a pop-up store in Tokyo’s Ginza district. The brand also presented its collections at Milan Fashion Week under the creative direction of Andrea Pompilio.
The brand’s origins date back to 1949, when Kihachiro Onitsuka founded the company with a vision to promote sports as a means of development for Japanese youth. Today, Onitsuka Tiger remains a symbol of innovation and timeless style, under the umbrella of Asics Corporation since 1977.
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