Yasuhito Hirota

Chairman and CEO, Representative Director, ASICS Corporation

Search every verified Yasuhito Hirota interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2019 interview, Yasuhito Hirota discussed Asics' approach to product design and market strategy. He stated that the ideal shoe would contribute to the wearer's health simply by being worn, and he expressed a goal of providing shoes tailored to individual foot shapes. Hirota also emphasized the importance of environmentally conscious production, saying that expanding business at the expense of the environment would be detrimental to the planet and future generations. Hirota also addressed international markets, noting that Asics treats the United States and China as separate markets, so trade tensions between the two countries would not affect the company's business. He described Brazil as a very important market due to its strong sports culture and local production capabilities, and he expressed interest in increasing market share there. Regarding economic downturns, he said that while demand might shift toward cheaper products, maintaining product quality and trust would remain a priority.