Asics and atmos are Linking Up for a Traditional Japanese Art Take on the Gel-Kayano 12.1

It’s always a recipe for sneaker success when a collaborator can add local aesthetics and references to a colorway, but when a sneaker brand is also from the same place, the combined love for the location comes through exponentially. For legendary Japanese sneaker boutique atmos and Asics, the partnership has always been rooted in local culture, and the latest partnership continues the story with a nod to the ancient Japanese art form Raden.

The atmos x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 Raden is a blacked-out mesh runner with rainbow pearl accents shimmering across the support panels. The shoe takes its subtle shine from Raden, the Japanese art practice of inlaying mother-of-pearl’s iridescent color shifting shimmer inside of wood or lacquer. Added to panels of black patent leather, the mother-of-pearl style accents sit on the shoe just like they would on a piece of lacquerware art.

So far, we’ve only seen the atmos x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 Raden colorway in a quick preview from atmos Creative Director Hirofumi Kojima, who debuted the shoe on his Instagram page as he has for plenty of collabs in the past, including two atmos x Asics collabs earlier this year, a Gel-NYC and Gel-1130.

The atmos x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 Raden doesn’t have a firm release date just yet, but will be released sometime in January 2026 through atmos, in-store and online. As of this writing, there is no retail price set for the pair. For all the latest Asics collab news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Zach Harris

Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com