As the fashion industry pushes ever forward into the sportswear market, some brands seem to be missing something. They might pack serious clout when it comes to style, but in terms of performance, not so much.

Japanese brand Mizuno comes at the issue from very much the opposite direction. Founded in Osaka in 1906, this sportswear manufacturer has always led in the field. It has lent its athletic know-how to the top tiers of disciplines ranging from golf and rugby to tennis and judo, but really found its feet, as it were, in running shoes.

“We think that what makes our brand special is not only our core values – heritage, innovation, and Japanese identity – but the fact that we are probably the only big sportwear brand that, for more than 100 years, has focused only on performance,” says Mr Luca Marchet, Mizuno’s lifestyle category manager. “Mizuno is constantly in pursuit of perfection, to almost nerdy levels. But this is what you need to excel.”

Perhaps nowhere is this attitude better illustrated than in the company’s Infinity Wave Plate technology. Designed to provide unparalleled cushioning for runners, a quick glance at Mizuno’s top-of-the-line Wave Prophecy and Wave Creation models, now available on MR PORTER in exclusive colourways as part of The Japan Edit, is that, yes, something is missing – there are holes in the sole. In fact, this unique construction makes for a highly responsive and incredibly comfortable shoe, built for pounding pavements and pummeling PBs.

Not that the distinctive heel should distract in any way from the shoes’ uppers, which, despite the cutting-edge technology, tap into Japan’s rich warrior lineage. “The inspiration was samurai armour, where the first layer was very tight and light (the knit) and the second layer guaranteed protection (the TPU shell),” says Mr Marchet.

Whether running shoes or katana blades, favouring function over form often leads to rather striking results. In its aggressive styling, Mizuno’s footwear range stands out, and the shoes more than hold their own against the ugly sneakers of the runway. And they run faster, too.