Asics EX89 Shoes. The EX89™ sneaker blends the heritage influences of the Gel-Extreme™ basketball shoe from 1989 with modern cushioning properties.​It was originally created by Toshikazu Kayano® in the late 1980s as his first design project with ASICS®. Asics updated the cushioning system with their FF Blast™ technology. It's met with a sculpted heel shape to improve underfoot comfort during everyday scenarios.​The outsole’s pattern is meant to mirror the view of a city from the sky. This functional grip feature was initially inspired by the designer’s first business trip to the United States in 1987. Imported.