Asics Revives One of Its Hottest Sneakers Ever for a Bittersweet Goodbye

An apt tribute to one of the running world’s most revered design legends.

Close-up of a beige, orange, and blue Asics Gel Lyte III sneaker with white laces against a blue-green gradient background.

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Published June 4, 2026

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In the discussion of the most influential crossover running shoes of all time, Nike’s Air Max and New Balance’s 990 dominate the conversation. But lest we forget about the Gel-Lyte III from Asics.

Debuting in 1990, the sneaker has become instantly recognizable for its split-tongue design. Shigeyuki Mitsui came up with the feature after complaints from runners that normal tongues would tend to slide to one side during use. This, combined with lightweight construction and the brand’s Gel cushioning made it an instant flagship.

Now, Mitsui is retiring and Asics is sending him off with one heck of a swan song.

Pair of Asics Gel Lyte III sneakers in beige, orange, and blue with suede and mesh panels. — Asics’ iconic Gel-Lyte III bids farewell to its designer Shigeyuki Mitsui with this special colorway.

Gel-Lyte III 07 Remastered

Despite being popular with runners at the time of its release, the Gel-Lyte III found a second life some two decades later and legitimized retro running shoes as legitimate collectibles. In response, Asics started treating the model as a serious pillar of its catalog, much in the same way Nike has treated Jordans or Air Maxes.

Light gray and turquoise suede Asics Gel Lyte III sneaker with orange accents and white sole. — Hairy suede in turquoise gets paired with coral and cream for a stunning look.

The Shigeyuki Mitsui farewell variant is based on the Gel-Lyte III 07 Remastered iteration, which was brought back after collectors noticed the 2007-era versions of the shoe had specific characteristics that varied from the original. This means a chunkier toe shape, a more padded collar and slightly different panel dimensions.

Pair of Asics sneakers with white perforated toe box, orange and blue suede accents, and orange inner lining. — The original split-tongue design was created to prevent tongue slipping during use.

What’s in a number?

Retaining all the hallmarks of the standard 07 Remastered, the new sneaker features a color chosen by Mitsui himself. The turquoise-colored hairy suede around the toe and heel is immediately striking, accented by cream suede and coral leather.

Coral was chosen because of its connection to the number 35.

Asics

The coral’s inclusion here is the most significant to the theme. Fresh off the shoe’s 35th anniversary, this variant plays on the Japanese word for “35”: “san-go,” which can also be translated to “coral.” This is why the 35th wedding anniversary in Japan is the coral anniversary. The color can also be seen implemented in the outsole as well.

Closing out the tribute, the shoe also features Mitsui’s signature embroidered on the famed tongue he designed all those years ago.

Pair of beige, blue, and orange ASICS sneakers with suede and mesh materials. — Unlike your standard Gel-Lyte III, these feature Mitsui’s signature stitched into the tongue.

Availability and pricing

The Gel-Lyte III “Shigeyuki Mitsui” is set to drop June 5 at 11 a.m. ET from Asics website. It’s priced at $160.

Beige, turquoise, and orange Asics Gel Lyte III sneaker with suede and mesh upper, white laces, and white sole.

Asics Gel-Lyte III 07 Remastered “Shigeyuki Mitsui”

$160 at Asics

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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