It seems that Japanese-made athletic gear took the sporting world by storm, with golfers switching to Mizuno Irons clubs to volleyball players donning Mizuno sneakers. In baseball, the Japanese trend has also grown, with more players preferring to wear Mizuno spikes instead of the usual Nike, Adidas, and Puma cleats. The wave continued with baseball gloves, with the advanced features that are typically Japanese.
Mizuno and SSK are probably the most familiar Japanese sporting brands that have penetrated the Western market. Mizuno and SSK are among the most dominant. Both brands offer complete baseball glove lines, so choosing your favorite model comes down to individual preference, comfort, the position played, and perhaps what you can afford.
For example, outfielders tend to go for bigger and longer gloves to stretch their hands out and catch balls more easily, or use it wide open to shield their faces from the sun. On the other hand, infielders prefer smaller gloves with closed webs because they believe they’re the best in transferring balls to prepare for quick and fast throws to outpace fast-base runners. Pitchers also tend to use infielder’s gloves, although they may be somewhat longer, modified, or even customized. Catchers and first basemen usually wear mitts with shapes and padding designed to withstand the rigors of their particular position in the field.
Check out custom Yeezy MLB shoes for more information.
Here are some of the Japanese baseball glove manufacturers, including lesser-known Japanese baseball glove makers:
Mizuno
Mizuno is the most dominant Japanese brand when it comes to baseball gear. It began in 1906 selling Western sundries (including baseballs); now, Mizuno is a global company that manufactures and sells various sports gear. However, it is mainly known for its baseball equipment, especially its quality baseball gloves. These gloves are the core of what Mizuno is and have made it a trusted baseball equipment brand in Japan and worldwide for over a century.
Mizuno combines quality leather and raw materials with the latest technology when creating a specific product, such as a baseball glove.
In addition to standard mitts, Mizuno has also embraced fully customizable options that allow customers to create their own designs online.
Among the most popular Mizuno baseball gloves line are the Mizuno Pro Baseball Glove Series, Mizuno Pro Select Baseball Glove Series, Mizuno Classic Pro Soft Baseball Glove Series, Mizuno Prime Elite Baseball Glove Series, and Mizuno Franchise Baseball Glove Series.
Mizuno produces a wide variety of professional-level baseball gloves made with premium leather for all specific positions – infield, outfield, catcher, etc., along with standard professional gloves. While most of Mizuno’s gloves carry steep price tags, there are also some more affordable options. Prices range between $200 and $400 for a glove.
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced Mizuno glove, go for their Classic Pro Soft series – prices of its gloves start at $200. It can be used by beginners and professionals alike.
The Pro Select Glove is also one of Mizuno’s top products. This collection offers baseball gloves made with US steer hide, which provides both durability and comfort to the wearer. However, this series comes at a higher price tag averaging around $265.
To provide you with more ideas, below are some examples of Mizuno baseball gloves that you can check out:
Mizuno MVP Prime Baseball Glove Series: This baseball glove is made of bio-soft leather. It is a professional-style smooth leather that has the perfect balance of oil and softness for an exceptional feel and firm control. It also features the same durable lace that Mizuno offers in their professional-level gloves. Plus, it has an ultra-comfortable padded thumb slot.
Mizuno Franchise Baseball Glove Series: This baseball glove is made of a full-grain leather shell and laced binding. It has a premium quality design with great durability. It also features an Ortholite palm pad to reduce sting and deaden the ball’s impact. Its lining disperses perspiration, and it has an alternating lace pattern to retain the integrity of a fully-laced web with greater flexibility.
Mizuno Pro Baseball Glove Series: This baseball glove is made of US Kip leather. It has tighter fibers, making it more durable and premium. It has pockets that are tailored specifically to the player’s needs. It also has comfortable, hand-based patterns that set the pocket under the web and help shape the glove like a pro.
Mizuno Pro Select Baseball Glove Series: This baseball glove is made of US Steerhide leather. It is a premium type of leather that is built to hold up the rigors of a full season. It also has an elite leather palm liner that provides an exceptional feel. Its thumb slot also provides additional comfort and a solid, secure fit.
Mizuno Prime Elite Baseball Glove Series: This is a leather baseball glove that provides a cleaner look and stability through the fingers. It has an ultra-soft palm liner, making it more comfortable to wear. It also features a new finger stall shape to help improve flexibility and control when making a tough play.
SSK
SSK is also a respected Japanese baseball equipment company with a significant presence in the international market. Founded in 1946 by Kyozo Sasaki, SSK has produced a large selection of quality products, designed with innovation in mind, while providing top-rated service to its customers.
Some say that SSK’s gloves are even more expensive than Mizuno’s, ranging from $100 to $300 or higher.
SSK offers various signature gloves, but its “Black Line” remains its most famous and premium line. This line features gloves designed with the company’s innovative FusionFit Technology and made of Moisturized Premium Steerhide Leather. Their gloves are durable and long-lasting while also staying supple enough to fit snugly in your hand and give your thumb some added support.
The “White Line” gloves are cheaper but still offering great design and performance.
SSK offers a six-year manufacturer’s warranty on all of its baseball gloves, a solid proof that it stands behind its commitment to quality.
Below are some examples of SSK baseball gloves to provide you with more options:
SSK White Line Series Spiral I-Web Baseball Glove: This baseball glove is modeled after Javier Baezs on-field glove. It is made of premium Japanese-tanned steer hide. This is crafted in the Shokunin tradition, and designed to be lightweight while providing the perfect fit and feel for baseball players.
SSK Black Line Series Spiral I-Web Baseball Glove: This baseball glove is made for high levels of play and is made in the Japanese Shokunin tradition. It is a top-quality baseball glove that is made for the rigors of daily competition, making it extremely durable and comfortable. It has the SSKs FusionFit Technology and is made from moisturized premium steer hide leather, which is perfect for elite levels of play.
SSK SPF130 Hard Gloves First Mitt: This baseball glove adopts a deep pocket that is easy to use even for beginners. It is made of natural leather and is intended for right-hand throw. It is also recommended for team delivery.
SSK Pro Series Baseball Glove: This baseball glove features a blond back and black palm. It also has one piece closed web and open back. It is made for right-hand throw and is perfect for youths.
Zett
Zett is another Japanese corporation that manufactures baseball and softball gear. It has been around since the 1950s.
About Zett’s baseball gloves, they’ve genuinely made a part of the company’s history and legacy. Until recently, Zett’s gloves were somewhat of a well-kept secret, especially among American baseball players. These gloves are actually manufactured in Taiwan together with other baseball equipment. Zett can be seen worn by pro ballplayers in Japan and are prevalent in the Eastern hemisphere.
Like Mizuno’s and SSK’s gloves, Zett’s gloves are made from premium US steerhide. Designed for professional use in mind, these gloves are durable but also light and comfortable, enabling the player to catch better or throw quicker. Zett also designs position-specific baseball gloves, which are available in a handful (pardon the pun) of colors.
Zett’s gloves range between $180 and $300 or higher. Zett doesn’t have its own website as of this writing, but you can score their gloves from major online stores like Amazon and eBay.
To give you more options, below are some examples of Zett baseball gloves that you might want to check out:
Zett BPROG566 Hard Baseball Gloves: This baseball glove is made of natural leather. It is in size 4 and can be used in reverse hand opening, holding 2 pinky fingers. It is a great baseball glove that is perfect for grabbing with a combination of softness and durability. It is made by Japanese tanners from carefully selected North American leather. It also comes with a grab bag.
Zett BPROGP11 Baseball Glove Pro Status for Premium Pitcher: This baseball glove’s surface is made of natural leather, while its flat back is made of pro-state leather. It is in size 5 and comes with an exclusive grab bag.
Zett BSGB3920 Soft Baseball Gloves: The surface of this baseball glove is made of natural leather, while its flat back is made of steer leather or artificial leather. It is for left-hand throws and can be used for both baseball and softball.
Zett BPROG56S Hard Baseball Gloves for Second Short Pro Status: This baseball glove is made of natural leather. It comes in size 4 and is used for hand reverse winding and pinching catching. It is made for right-hand throws and is suitable for high school baseball, college, and adults.
Worldpegasus
Worldpegasus is a Japanese corporation founded in 1965. It manufactures and sells baseball gear.
Worldpegasus’s gloves are created with the players in mind. The company sticks to its concept that every glove binds with its players and is different from one another, even though it may be made from the same model.
Some of the company’s gloves are products of its collaboration with baseball players, such as Japanese baseball star Kuwata Masumi. The “Field Master” series is a collection of gloves made for hardball or softball for leisure or beginner players. The “Grand Devil” series is a collection of gloves for those transitioning into high school and made for hardball and softball. Another collection, the “Grand Pegasus,” caters to players at the collegiate or professional level. These top-quality gloves will set you back between $250 to $500.
Below are some examples of Worldpegasus baseball gloves to help you pick:
Worldpegasus WGKSOMK Hard Grab Baseball Glove: This baseball glove is made with Japanese beef leather recommended by Masaki Kuwada. It is a 2019 pitcher and infielder model, and it is made in Japan.
Worldpegasus WGNGD97 Grand Devil Soft Glove: This baseball glove has a deep suppression setting for the ball that has been caught. It has reinforced leather attached to the front and back of the pocket for improved durability. The position of the pocket is also set between the index and middle finger, and the thumb and pinky side for secure catching. It is a modern-style baseball glove.
Xanax Baseball
Founded in 1980, Xanax Baseball has a long and illustrious history of professional Japanese baseball players using their gear on national television in Japan.
The company’s gloves are made from steer leather and black leather. Xanax makes these gloves with a particular emphasis on tradition and attention to detail, resulting in lightweight and durable gloves that are designed to improve the player’s performance.
Xanax offers both beginner and professional gloves. It also offers multicolored gloves, with some combinations featuring green and red and others having blue and orange. In addition, Xanax offers the standard brown and black colors. Prices go from $200 to $500. However, their gloves are pretty hard to find on the other side of the planet. But you may still try searching on Amazon or eBay.
These are the different Japanese baseball glove manufacturers. You may also check out the other top baseball glove manufacturers.