Most notably, Mikasa volleyballs are the official balls for all Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (International Volleyball Federation) worldwide competitions, and numerous domestic leagues outside of North America.[4] Mikasa volleyballs are the official ball for the Olympics. Presently clubs, regions, high schools, colleges, and tournaments throughout the U.S. use Mikasa volleyballs.
History
Mikasa was founded in 1917 as the Hiroshima Gomu Corporation. The company began its life producing many different types of rubber products, such as flip-flops and dodgeballs. It began using the Mikasa brand name on its sports products in 1935, and in the early 1940s was consolidated with a number of rival rubber companies. Following World War II, the company grew rapidly: Mikasa volleyballs made their Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and in the 1970s the company began to expand globally.[5] Since 1980, Mikasa has also produced the official Olympic water polo ball.[6]
In the 2000s, Mikasa was faced with allegations of labor violations in some factories in Thailand. The ITUC published a report alleging anti-labor campaigns by company management.[7] The report detailed allegations of unethical labor practices such as the penalization of union leaders and labor organizers via discriminatory transfers and unjust disciplinary procedures.[7] The ITUC argued that Mikasa succeeded in either forcing the resignation of most of the factory's union committee in an affront to the right of its employees to organize. The Thai Labor Campaign alleged that new Mikasa factory workers received only 173 baht per day. (equivalent to $4.36 per day in 2006)[8]
Mikasa has been the official ball provider for the following leagues and associations, in addition to having exclusive agreements with some prominent athletes:
Michigan High School Athletic Association Bulletin, Volume 70, Michigan High School Athletic Association, 1993, University of Michigan, p. 464.
Gay and lesbian tourism: the essential guide for marketing, Jeff Guaracino, p. 146.
Sports sponsor factbook, Team Marketing Report, Inc., 1999, p. 623.
Japanese multinationals, facts & figures, Tōyō Keizai Shinpōsha, 2007, p. 268.
American Commercial Inc. d/b/a Mikasa and Mikasa Licensing, Inc. v. Sports and Leisure International d/b/a Mikasa Sports, Civil Action No. 96–713LHM (U.S.D.C. C.D. Cal.).
^ ab2007 Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights - Thailand: Violations in 2006, International Trade Union Confederation, 2007, survey07.ituc-csi.orgArchived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
