Performance-driven Japanese craftsmanship meets skateboarding functionality in these court-inspired low-tops that deliver superior impact protection with unexpected durability for technical street skating.
The Asics Japan Pro represents the calculated evolution of a tennis classic into legitimate skateboarding equipment, drawing from the brand's 70+ years of athletic footwear engineering while respecting skateboarding's specific technical demands. Originally released as a court shoe in the 1980s, this model's resurrection came through skateboarding's organic attraction to its clean lines and functional durability rather than manufactured marketing campaigns. The Japan Pro's construction balances seemingly contradictory needs—cupsole protection with surprising board feel, cushioning without bulk, and a silhouette that offers technical precision without sacrificing style. Asics' proprietary GEL cushioning system, long proven in their running shoes, finds perfect application in skateboarding's high-impact reality, absorbing the repetitive trauma of gap sessions and stair sets without bottoming out after a week of serious use. The reinforced ollie area features a specialized rubber compound that resists the sandpaper-like grip tape abrasion that destroys lesser footwear, while the toe cap's distinctive shape provides the perfect flick surface for technical flip tricks. Unlike brands that simply repurpose mainstream athletic models with minimal modifications, the Japan Pro represents a ground-up consideration of skateboarding's functional requirements—from the heel lock that prevents the dreaded heel slip during precise flick timing to the tongue centering straps that combat the sideways migration that plagues sessions. These aren't simply fashion sneakers attempting to capitalize on skateboarding's cultural cache but purpose-built tools for skaters who demand equipment that matches their technical progression.
