TCS Amsterdam Marathon Running shoe 2021: Mizuno x Rijksmuseum Wave Skyrise 2

For the 2021 edition of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, Mizuno collaborated once again with the Rijksmuseum to create two special edition shoes that symbolise their common connection to Japan. Mizuno was founded in 1906, in Osaka, Japan, and the Rijksmuseum has an extensive rich history with the country. This collab was born out of the inspiring Asian Pavilion of the Rijksmuseum which is home of a collection of sculptures, Buddha’s and Kimonos.

Mizuno has been a main sponsor of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon for the past for 21 years. Since a few years, the brand has collaborated with partners linked to the arts and the city of Amsterdam to celebrate this event with special edition running and lifestyle shoes. All the previous collaborations have revolved around the theme of ‘the art of running’.

This year, and for the second time, Mizuno partnered with the Rijksmuseum to create a running shoe - Wave Skyrise 2 - and a lifestyle sneaker - Contender. Their main goal is to share a piece of Japanese art and tradition with runners, to inspire them on their journey, throughout the marathon and beyond.


Inspiration: Japan
Mizuno and Rijksmuseum want to bring a positive message and bring happiness after a year of uncertainty and challenges. Mizuno takes inspiration from the Japanese Kimonos displayed at the Rijksmuseum. These are Japanese traditional dresses which wrap around the body and are worn by both men and women. The Kimono, a symbol of longevity and good fortune, became the traditional clothing around late 700’s being frequently worn by men women and children. Nowadays, it is typically reserved for special occasions.

The Kimonos that inspired the Mizuno x Rijksmuseum Wave Skyrise 2 and Wave Contender feature patterns of crane birds. Throughout Asia, the crane is a symbol of happiness and eternal youth. In Japan, it is considered one of the mystical, holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise) and symbolizes good fortune and longevity because of its fabled life span of a thousand years.

About Mizuno Wave Skyrise 2
The Wave Skyrise 2 represents Mizuno’s commitment to deliver the most comfortable experience to runners who enjoy soft cushioning with efficient energy return from landing to toe off. Featuring Mizuno’s best footwear technologies, MIZUNO ENERZY and MIZUNO WAVE, it is designed to make every run feel effortless.

The pattern on the heel of the Wave Skyrise 2 is called “Chidori” which means “Thousand Birds”. This bird pattern is a representation of both the Crane bird, but also a traditional kimono pattern. When these two meanings combine, it represents "Senba-tsuru" or "Thousand Cranes" a traditional act where a thousand crane birds are folded out of origami paper and put together to make a wish come true.

For more information and webshop: www.mizuno.com