PROFILE
planning department
Joined Mizuno in 2005. After working in charge of planning baseball shoes, he has been in charge of product planning for running shoes since 2019.
A smooth ride like you've never experienced before.
In July 2020, Mizuno introduced a new material for soles called "MIZUNO ENERZY. What did you have in mind when incorporating this material into running shoes?
Washimi:In the running category, Mizuno has continued to manufacture products with the utmost importance placed on smoothness when running. The core of this philosophy will remain unchanged in the future.
Mizuno has a long-established technology called "MIZUNO WAVE," which enhances stability and cushioning with corrugated plates to achieve a smooth running experience. By combining this with the new "MIZUNO ENERZY" material with softness and resilience, we believe that runners will experience an overwhelming smoothness they have never experienced before. With this in mind, we began product planning for "MIZUNO ENERZY" equipped shoes.
MIZUNO ENERZY" has three types: "MIZUNO ENERZY CORE," "MIZUNO ENERZY LITE," and "MIZUNO ENERZY.
Washimi:First, we focused on the softest and most resilient "MIZUNO ENERZY CORE" as the core of our planning. We then added the "MIZUNO ENERZY LITE," which emphasizes lightweight performance for racing, and the "MIZUNO ENERZY," which is more versatile, to the lineup, while leveraging that know-how. The image is to use them differently depending on the purpose and concept of the shoes.
Why did we dare to adopt a "thin sole" and "mid-cut" design?
Please tell us about your flagship model "WAVE DUEL NEO". What are the features of this shoe?
WAVE DUEL NEO ￥23,000 +TAX
Washimi:The entire midsole is made of MIZUNO ENERZY LITE, the lightest of all MIZUNO ENERZY shoes, and is equipped with MIZUNO WAVE. The wave plate extends from the midfoot to the forefoot, allowing the plate to flex even when landing on the forefoot.
Our main target is elite runners who are looking for speed, but even ordinary citizen runners with good leg strength can use it to help them run a full marathon to improve their personal best.
Q: In the marathon world these days, "thick soles" are the norm, but the soles of these shoes are rather thin, aren't they?
Washimi:In order to achieve a smoother running experience, we have maintained an appropriate thickness so that the sole does not sink in too much. As I mentioned earlier, Mizuno's greatest identity in running shoes is that they should be comfortable and smooth while running. In a race such as a marathon, the landing point and running style changes for each person immediately after the start and after the end of the race. The basic premise of good shoes, in our opinion, is that they do not lose their smoothness from the first half to the second half. We created these shoes with the idea of maintaining high resilience in any situation.
It is rare to see running shoes with ankle-length cuffs. What was your aim in adopting a mid-cut design?
Washimi:There are two points. The first is "fitting. By making the shoes mid-cut, we aimed to improve the sense of oneness between the foot and the shoe. The second is "lightweight. You might think that a mid-cut shoe would be heavier, but in fact, by making the cut higher, we were able to eliminate the heel counter, which is essential in normal shoes, and reduce the total weight of the shoe. In addition, by adopting a knit material with a uniquely designed one-piece structure for the upper, we have achieved an excellent fitting that prevents the heel from blurring even without a heel counter.
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