Foundation uvex sports Japan: 1999
Foundation uvex safety Japan: 2012
Location: Tokyo
Management: Tetsuya Midorikawa
Japan is one of the world’s three largest winter sports markets, alongside Europe and North America. Although uvex had been active in Japan since the late 1960s, the market success achieved through external distributors did not meet expectations.
A visit to Tokyo by Rainer Winter in January 1999 led to the realization that long‑term success could only be achieved through a direct market presence. As a result, UVEX SPORTS JAPAN was founded in August 1999 in partnership with his long‑time friend Fakehiro Abé. With a team of just six employees, the company was already able to significantly increase its market share by its second year and further establish itself as a recognized supplier in the Japanese market.
Ski‑jumping legend Noriaki Kasai has been a dedicated representative of the uvex brand for more than 30 years.
At the age of 53, Kasai is the oldest active ski jumper in the world and has competed in a total of eight Olympic Games.
The Kinan Racing Team is a professional cycling team that primarily competes in national and international races.
After distributing its occupational safety products in Japan in close partnership with Midori Anzen since the 1970s, uvex founded UVEX SAFETY JAPAN in 2012. As part of this step, uvex became the first non‑Japanese manufacturer of occupational safety products worldwide—and the first German company—to receive “JIS approval”, the Japanese certification for the highest quality standards.
Both Japanese subsidiaries are jointly based at the Tokyo office.
Japan's largest trade fair for occupational safety, health and prevention
Located right next to the uvex safety office building is a sushi restaurant that is just as long‑established as uvex.
