Announcement of Cooperation Partnership Agreement with Sports Human Capital

The Badminton Association of Japan (Chairman: Mitsuru Murai; hereinafter "BAJ") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a cooperation partnership (*1) agreement with the public interest incorporated foundation Sports Human Capital (Representative Director: Kosuke Honma; hereinafter "SHC").

SHC focuses on the "creation of management talent for sports organizations." It develops and deploys unique educational programs and communities aimed at fostering management and administrative talent within the sports world, working to cultivate and produce individuals who support the development of the sports industry.

Through this partnership, BAJ will utilize the human resource development programs and networks possessed by SHC to promote the strengthening of the management foundation and human resource development within BAJ and its affiliated organizations. By doing so, we aim to enhance not only athletic performance but also the management capabilities that support sustainable organizational operations, leading to the further development of the Japanese badminton world.

*1 "Cooperation Partner" is one of SHC's sponsorship programs, involving mutual cooperation in physical and human resources, in addition to information sharing and public relations.

Comments from BAJ Chairman Mitsuru Murai "I am very pleased that we have concluded a cooperation partnership agreement with the public interest incorporated foundation Sports Human Capital. We will receive support in areas such as the development of management talent in sports organizations and the strengthening of networks, while also collaborating on information sharing and PR activities.

Badminton has the power to contribute to the creation of a rich society by generating physical and mental health and human connections, in addition to its appeal as a sport. To further enhance that value and ensure sustainable development, it is essential to strengthen our organizational management capabilities and human resource base, in addition to improving athletic performance. Through this partnership, we hope to leverage our respective expertise and networks to foster talent capable of excelling in both athletic and management aspects, thereby contributing not only to the further development of the Japanese badminton world but also to the development of the entire Japanese sports world."

Comments from SHC Representative Director Kosuke Honma "It is a great pleasure to have the Badminton Association of Japan become a cooperation partner, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. I would also like to thank Chairman Murai, who is the founder of SHC and its predecessor organization JHC, and a leading executive in the sports business world, once again.

Being involved in the competition and management of badminton, which attracts attention both in Japan and globally, and being able to support the management and human resource development of not only professional leagues but also the National Federation (NF) and the 47 prefectural associations, is a great honor for SHC. We hope to take advantage of this opportunity to grow into a platform for the human resources and management sectors of the Japanese sports world. Furthermore, we intend to promote our business toward the realization of a rich sports life—the vision of SHC—by producing numerous excellent management talents who will play active roles in sports organizations and by forming a community in collaboration with domestic and international organizations."

About Sports Human Capital SHC aims for the "development of sports management talent and the accumulation of wisdom." Through the "SHC Sports Business Master Course," it trains sports management talent and serves as a partner in solving the challenges faced by sports organizations. It also focuses on matching those who "want to be involved in sports" with "places for sports," aiming to be a driving force in realizing a life where sports are accessible and a rich sports life by creating and supplying talent that can contribute to sports organizations.

Company Name: Sports Human Capital (SHC) Representative Director: Kosuke Honma Established: September 2016 (Transitioned to a public interest corporation in March 2018) Location: Meiji Yasuda Life Building, 2-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Official Website: https://shc-japan.or.jp/