Onitsuka Tiger began in Kobe as a Japanese athletic-shoe company in 1949. Its Tiger Stripes arrived in 1966, Onitsuka joined the company that became ASICS in 1977, and the Onitsuka Tiger name returned in 2002 as a sports-style brand. The modern MEXICO 66 draws on that history, but it is not the same shoe Uma Thurman wore in Kill Bill: that was the TAI-CHI.
How did Onitsuka Tiger begin?
Kihachiro Onitsuka established Onitsuka Shokai in Kobe in 1949 and reorganized the business as ONITSUKA Co., Ltd. that same year, according to ASICS’ corporate history. The company’s early focus was athletic footwear, including basketball shoes.
One early example was the 1951 OK basketball shoe. ASICS says its sole used dimples inspired by octopus suction cups, designed to help players start and stop more effectively. That problem-solving approach belongs to the brand’s athletic origins, even though the best-known Onitsuka Tiger shoes are now often worn as everyday style.
What is the story behind the Tiger Stripes and Mexico 66?
The Tiger Stripes were introduced in 1966, when the design appeared on shoes in the Mexico line. The model now known as MEXICO 66 came later; the historic stripe milestone and the modern product name are related, but they are not interchangeable.
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Channel News Asia reports that the Limber Up Leather BK shoes, featuring the stripes, were designed for Japan’s national team ahead of the 1968 Mexico Olympics. The modern MEXICO 66 takes its name from the earlier design era and is one of the classic models reissued under the Onitsuka Tiger brand.
The US business connection began before the stripes. CNA reports that Onitsuka sent its first shipment of shoes to the United States in 1963, the same year Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman formed Blue Ribbon Sports to distribute them. Knight and Bowerman each reportedly invested US$500. Blue Ribbon Sports’ relationship with Onitsuka ended in the 1970s; the link is part of Nike’s business history, not evidence that Onitsuka Tiger became Nike or is owned by Nike.
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- Smooth Cow Leather
- Closure type: Lace-Up
- Heel type: Flat
- Water resistance level: not_water_resistant
- Height map: Low Top
Are Onitsuka Tiger and ASICS the same company?
They are closely related, but the names refer to different things. Onitsuka’s footwear business merged with GTO Co. and JELENK Co. in 1977 to form ASICS Corporation, as recorded in ASICS’ history. The Onitsuka Tiger name later returned as a brand within the ASICS story, rather than as a separate successor to Nike.
ASICS says its name comes from the Latin phrase Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, commonly rendered as “a sound mind in a sound body,” and describes the phrase as its company philosophy. The company’s history explains that the sentiment is reflected in the name.
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- Smooth Cow Leather
- Closure type: Lace-Up
- Heel type: Flat
- Water resistance level: not_water_resistant
- Height map: Low Top
Why are Mexico 66 sneakers so popular?
The MEXICO 66 combines a recognizable stripe design with a story that spans Japanese athletic footwear, Olympic-era shoes, and the revival of the Onitsuka Tiger name. Its appeal is also helped by the gap between its sporting roots and its present identity: it is a heritage sports-style shoe, not simply a current competition model.
The brand’s 2002 return put MEXICO 66 alongside other reissued classics, including ULTIMATE81 and NIPPON60. Those releases made the older design history available under a revived brand name, helping the MEXICO 66 stand for both the original stripe era and Onitsuka Tiger’s modern identity.
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![Onitsuka Tiger Shoes, Sneakers [Onitsuka Tiger] MEXICO 66 SLIP-ON1183A360 - beige -](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31LdJuU-3NL._SL160_.jpg)
- Canvas/Synthetic Leather
That heritage alone does not establish how the current shoe fits, feels, wears over time, or performs for sport. Those practical questions depend on the specific current model and product specifications, which are not established by the brand history.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened to the brand after its revival?
In 2002, Onitsuka Tiger returned as a sports-style brand, with classic models including MEXICO 66 reissued. In 2003, Uma Thurman wore the TAI-CHI model in Kill Bill, according to Onitsuka Tiger’s retrospective. It is common to connect the film’s yellow sneaker with the brand, but the specific model identified by the brand is TAI-CHI, not MEXICO 66.
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The brand’s story is still developing. ASICS announced that its Onitsuka Innovative Factory in Tottori opened on January 1, 2026. The facility is intended to develop and produce high-value-added footwear, including NIPPON MADE products. Ryoji Shoda, Head of Onitsuka Tiger Company, described it as “Onitsuka Tiger’s new epicenter, integrating global design and technology with a foundation in Japanese craftsmanship,” in an ASICS announcement dated January 15, 2026.
What the MEXICO 66 story does—and does not—tell you as a buyer
The history explains the model’s design lineage and cultural recognition, but it is not a buying guide to present-day fit or performance. If you are considering a pair, check the current product listing for the exact model, materials, price, colorway, and availability in your region. Do not assume that a heritage design is suitable for athletic use simply because it originated in sports footwear.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
