By Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World Japanese Correspondent
TOKYO, Japan, June 1. THE Japanese Swimming Federation collected representatives from three swimsuit brands on May 30 to learn where those three brands are in terms of development of new improved swimsuits for Beijing. Mizuno, Asics and Descente, which distributes the Arena brand in the Japanese market, all spoke with the federation. On May 7, the federation requested the three brands to improve their current models by a deadline of May 30. The federation will decide if it will allow Speedo's LZR Racer in Beijing on June 10.
Some of the reasons making the situation complicated in Japan is that the federation has a contract to limit the use of swimsuits to those three brands until March 2017, and Speedo is out of it mainly due to the license relationship with Mizuno that ended the last Spring.
The issue even caused an interest from the political sector. A study group of the Liberal Democratic Party called Kazuo Sano, executive director of the federation, on May 27 to explain the situation including the background of contract. The contract is simply too long and indirectly intervenes commercial competitions. Also, as a non-profit organization, the process of making such a contract is unclear.
On the deadline of May 30, Mizuno brought one new model, which tightens the abdominal area by two times and four times more on the back of the body, compared to the previous model. Its material was developed jointly with Toray, the key Japanese fiber and textile developer. Asics explained about two models, which also focus on tightness of parts of the body especially on legs by three times also compared to their previous model. Descente developed three different versions, one also focusing on tightness of material.
The federation's request to those three brands to improve existing models in about three weeks seems to be almost impossible challenges both from pure development and also from commercial point of view, as they had already commercialized their current models into the market since before the Japanese Olympic Trials. Products are currently lined up on shelves of sporting good stores. Development of improved models could impact current models and business opportunities.
During the last day of the national team swim camp on May 31, Asics, Descente and Goldwin, which distributes Speedo in Japan, appeared for samples testing for athletes, but Mizuno did not appear with samples. This caused anxiety among some athletes. There are some voices from swimmers looking to use the LZR in Beijing, there are other voices admitting improved feeling of those suits provided by three brands.
The federation's decision will be based on voice of athletes at the Japan Open from June 6 – 8 at Tatsumi International Swim Center and Mare Nostrum, where a part of the Japanese National Team will compete with improved samples. Time is running out for those brands that make customized suits for everyone on the team, and the federation, which might need to change the wording or length of the contract.