APA Hotel Reaches Basic Agreement to Extend Contract as JFA National Team Partner

APA Hotel Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 3-2-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Fumiko Motoya), a comprehensive urban development company, has reached a basic agreement with the Japan Football Association (JFA) (Location: Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Tsuneyasu Miyamoto) to extend its contract as a 'JFA National Team Partner' from 2027 to 2030.

APA Hotel Special Support Site for the Japan National Football Team (https://www.apahotel.com/samurai_blue/)

Since 2023, APA Hotel has been supporting all categories of Japan's national teams as a JFA National Team Partner, including 'SAMURAI BLUE (Men's National Team)', 'Nadeshiko Japan (Women's National Team)', age-specific national teams, futsal national team, beach soccer national team, and e-national football team. In September 2024, APA Hotel's brand curry 'APA Shacho Curry', which had surpassed cumulative sales of 10 million servings, was designated as the official curry of the Japan national football team, and 'APA Shacho Gohan (packaged rice)' to accompany the curry was designated as the official rice. They have also developed special packaging products for the Japan national team. Furthermore, in March 2025, they signed an advertising appearance contract with Hajime Moriyasu, the head coach of SAMURAI BLUE. Through original rooms collaborating with the coach and TV commercials featuring him, APA Hotel is fighting alongside SAMURAI BLUE led by Coach Moriyasu as they take on the challenge from Japan to the world, fully supporting the battle to deliver Japan's pride to the world.

Regarding this basic agreement, JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto commented, 'APA Hotel has been strongly supporting the Japan national teams as a JFA National Team Partner since 2023. We feel greatly encouraged that they have agreed to extend the partnership until 2030.

We sincerely appreciate their contribution to fostering a spirit of support for the Japan national team under the banner of 'JAPAN PRIDE', as well as creating opportunities for people to feel closer to the national team through the Japan national team packaged 'APA Shacho Curry' and 'APA Shacho Gohan'.

Japanese football will continue to take on new challenges towards the FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030. We hope to continue sharing the vision of 'Creating the future through football' with APA Hotel and connect it to the development of the Japan national team and Japanese football.'

Additionally, Kazushi Motoya, President and CEO of APA Group, stated, 'We have decided to extend the contract as a JFA National Team Partner. Since signing in 2023, we declared a 'joint struggle' with the Japan national football team, and having walked alongside the team for these three years, I believe there has been synergy for both parties. Particularly in the hotel category, welcoming guests from around the world has enhanced our external credibility as a partner of the Japan national team, and we can 'jointly struggle' in terms of domestic and international communication. As my life's work, I want to support the Japan national team from the sidelines to become the best in the world. In addition to hotels, we have added the curry & rice category, and by 'jointly struggling' in various aspects, we have reached this basic agreement to be of assistance. I sincerely hope to see new horizons together with everyone.'

Many notable tournaments are scheduled from 2027 onwards, including the Nadeshiko Japan World Cup in 2027, international tournaments in 2028, and the SAMURAI BLUE World Cup in 2030. We will continue to support the Japan national football team in their quest to become world champions, 'jointly struggling' with them.

[APA Group]

The group operates 346 hotels with 83,893 rooms domestically and 54 hotels with 5,454 rooms overseas under its own brand. Having achieved the targets of the 5-year plan 'AIM5 ~APA Innovative Movement' started in April 2022 ahead of schedule, the group will launch a new medium-term 5-year plan 'AIM5-II' in April 2026. The goals include reaching 100,000 rooms under its own domestic brand and 10,000 rooms overseas by the end of March 2031, as well as promoting platform business and multi-branding in the hotel sector, and strengthening North American operations and exploring next strategic areas for overseas business.