Japan’s oldest mask manufacturer’s revolutionary Core Energy belt is changing the game and has been adopted by the biggest names in baseball.
By Daniel de Bomford
Japan’s manufacturing sector has rightly earned its reputation for quality and attention to detail. For Japan’s oldest mask manufacturer, Shirohato, this quality has been refined through decades of experience, which is foundational to maintaining the standards for which it is known.
When a Major League pitcher approached President Takanao Yokoi to develop a solution to help manage back pain resulting from an injury, this accumulated experience and level of quality were invaluable, producing what would become the Core Energy Belt. Today, 75 percent of players in Japan use this belt, and the company is working with teams in the United States. The belt supports the athlete’s core, which is crucial in high-performance sports.
Every single Japanese player in the MLB has used the belt, and Yokoi says that some players can’t play without it. “I still remember how surprised I was when we received our first official order from the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’re such a major team, and it was a turning point for us,” he recalls. Two years later, a player using the belt on MLB is on every team, including stars Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Cal Raleigh.
Since the belt’s release, several white papers have been published that measure the effectiveness of the belt against traditional baseball belts. In a study conducted by Arizona Christian University, 77 percent of the sample reported improved pitching performance. The belt has also been found to reduce muscle fatigue by up to 40 percent.
Building on what it has learned, Shirohato is looking to introduce the belt to other sports. Last year, the company began supporting snowboarders for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, which presents an ideal opportunity. “Our future vision is to become a brand that supports athletes across all sports, globally,” Yokoi says. Already, the company is receiving orders from Major League baseball teams and prestigious universities in the United States. Shirohato is looking towards Europe next, to find new markets.
At the core of its product quality is the experience that comes with its decades of operation. Its core mesh technology was developed through extensive research and development, benefiting from its expertise in designing and manufacturing masks. “We understand textile innovations and we look to develop new materials,” Yokoi explains. Now, as it continues its explosive growth, Yokoi hopes the company can take its place alongside Nike and Adidas as a top-tier sports apparel brand.
To hear more from President Takanao Yokoi of Shirohato, check out this interview with him.
0 COMMENTS