Asics is best known for its sneakers, but also produces other footwear such as sandals, as well as clothing (T-shirts, jackets, hoodies, swimwear, compression garments, leggings, socks) and accessories (bags, backpacks, caps).

[4] Founder Kihachiro Onitsuka [ja] began manufacturing basketball shoes in his hometown of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.

When Phil Knight visited Japan in 1963, shortly after he graduated from Stanford University, he was impressed by Onitsuka Tiger shoes and immediately visited the Onitsuka Tiger office and asked to be their sales agent in the U.S. After a number of years the relationship crumbled and both companies sued each other, with Nike retaining the naming rights to several shoes.

[16] Asics sponsors a variety of sports associations, teams and individuals; sponsorships include World Athletics, the Los Angeles Marathon, as well as individual athletes such as volleyball player Ran Takahashi, footballer Takehiro Tomiyasu, and tennis players Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur and Jasmine Paolini.

In March 2017, employees assembling Asics products in Cambodia fainted due to thick smoke present in the factory where they were working.

The company responded to this by saying that it, along with the factory in question, would "address specific measures, with a focus on workers’ awareness and health and safety training, as well as including an improved air ventilation system".