A Beast on the run in Harajuku
If you thought the pace of Tokyo's Harajuku was already dizzying, just see what happens now that ASICS has opened its megastore for runners in the area's heart.
"Making Harajuku Sprint!" is the concept, which is targeted toward females, from casual morning joggers to hardcore marathon competitors. The store is state of the art, with 3-D foot scanners, treadmills that analyze your running stride and even in-store lockers for anyone who may want to take a quick lunchtime run.
As putting a fitness shop in Harajuku seems like a contradiction, ASICS knows that it is important to keep in the good graces of the area's cool kids. It has teamed up with Takao Yamashita, designer of cult brand Beauty:Beast, to offer limited-edition running wear.