Mikasa Sports

Mikasa Corporation (株式会社 ミカサ, Kabushiki Kaisha Mikasa) is a Japanese sports equipment and athletic goods company with its international corporate headquarters located in Nishi-ku, Hiroshima, Chūgoku.[2][3] Specializing in equipment for ball games, the balls manufactured by Mikasa for sports football, korfbal, basketball, volleyball, waterpolo and handball are often used for official matches, games and competitions.

Mikasa Sports
Kabushiki Kaisha (share company)
IndustrySports Equipment
PredecessorMasuda Rubber Industries, Myojyo Rubber Industrial Co.
FoundedMay 1, 1917 (1917-05-01)
HeadquartersHiroshima, Chūgoku, Japan
Key people
Yuji Saeki (President)
ProductsSports balls, accessories
Revenue¥6.5 billion (2010) [1]
Total assets¥120 million (2016)
Number of employees
139 (2016) [1]
Websitemikasasports.co.jp

Most notably, Mikasa volleyballs are the official balls for all Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (International Volleyball Federation) worldwide competitions, and numerous domestic leagues outside of North America.[4] Mikasa volleyballs are the official ball for the Olympics. Presently clubs, regions, high schools, colleges, and tournaments throughout the U.S. use Mikasa volleyballs.

History

Since 1980, Mikasa has produced the official water polo ball of choice for Olympic purposes.[5] In the 2000s, Mikasa was faced with allegations of labor violations in some factories in Thailand. The ITUC published a report alleging anti-labor campaigns by company management.[6] The report detailed allegations of unethical labor practices such as the penalization of union leaders and labor organizers via discriminatory transfers and unjust disciplinary procedures.[6] The ITUC argued that Mikasa succeeded in either forcing the resignation of most of the factory's union committee in an affront to the right of its employees to organize. The Thai Labor Campaign alleged that new Mikasa factory workers received only 173 baht per day. (equivalent to $4.36 per day in 2006)[7]

Products

Mikasa makes many different types of balls, including goods for basketball, beach and indoor volleyball, football, rugby union, waterpolo, korfball, American football and rugby football. (The last two are available solely in the United States)[8]

Sponsorships

Mikasa has been the official ball provider for the following leagues and associations, in addition to having exclusive agreements with some prominent athletes:

Volleyball

Athletes

Clubs

Federations

National teams

Waterpolo
  • Ligue Européenne de Natation
  • Fédération Internationale de Natation (men and women)
  • Tony Azevedo
  • National men and women teams
  • A beach volleyball resting on a sand court
  • Mikasa VLS300
  • Close-up Mikasa basketball
  • Resting photo of a basketball produced by the company
  • A men's water polo game ball sits on a pool deck
  • A blue, yellow, and white indoor volleyball by the company
  • Mikasa-produced volleyballs used in Poland
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See also

Bibliography
  • Michigan High School Athletic Association Bulletin, Volume 70, Michigan High School Athletic Association, 1993, University of Michigan, p. 464.
  • Gay and lesbian tourism: the essential guide for marketing, Jeff Guaracino, p. 146.
  • Sports sponsor factbook, Team Marketing Report, Inc., 1999, p. 623.
  • Japanese multinationals, facts & figures, Tōyō Keizai Shinpōsha, 2007, p. 268.
  • American Commercial Inc. d/b/a Mikasa and Mikasa Licensing, Inc. v. Sports and Leisure International d/b/a Mikasa Sports, Civil Action No. 96–713LHM (U.S.D.C. C.D. Cal.).

References
  1. Company profile
  2. "Company Profile Archived 2013-08-21 at the Wayback Machine." Mikasa Sports. Retrieved on September 9, 2012. "11-2, 3-chome, Kusunoki-cho, Nishi-ku Hiroshima 733-0002, Japan"
  3. "会社概要 Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine." Mikasa Sports. Retrieved on September 9, 2013. "所在地 広島市西区楠木町3丁目11番2号"
  4. http://www.mikasasports.com/
  5. https://www.popsci.com/know-your-olympic-sport/article/2008-08/volleyball-sand-and-gym#page-4%7CVolleyball (On the Sand and In the Gym)
  6. 2007 Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights - Thailand: Violations in 2006, International Trade Union Confederation, 2007, survey07.ituc-csi.org Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  7. The Life of Football Factory Workers in Thailand, Junya Lek Yimprasert, Thai Labor Campaign, June 30, 2006, PDF from CleanClothes Archived 2010-06-13 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Mikasa Sports USA - Products manufactured Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "New sponsorship contract between MIKASA Corporation and Marta Menegatti". Mikasa Sports. February 7, 2014.
  10. "Mikasa Signs Beach Volleyball Phenom Sara Hughes". Mikasa Sports. June 26, 2017.
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