Sakura Yokomine, 23-time Tour Winner, Breaks Sport Barriers to Become Shirt Sponsor for All Youth Categories of F-League Futsal Club 'Fugador Sumida'
Pro golfer Sakura Yokomine's 'SAKURA BATON' project has signed a 2-year jersey chest sponsorship deal with futsal club Fugador Sumida, supporting all four youth levels from U-12 to the Satellite team to foster the next generation of athletes.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 18:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 16:22 (6h 20m after Collected)
Pro golfer Sakura Yokomine (40), leader of the next-generation support project 'SAKURA BATON,' has signed a two-year contract as the uniform chest sponsor to provide activity funds for all youth categories of the F-League futsal club 'Fugador Sumida,' starting April 2026.
The support targets all four of the club's development categories: Eggs (U-12/Elementary school), Wings (U-15/Junior high school), Falcons (U-18/High school), and Buffaloes (Satellite). This consistent support covers the entire journey from elementary age to the satellite level just before the professional stage.
It is rare for a top pro golfer with 23 domestic tour wins and a 2009 money list title to support the youth development of a different sport like futsal. However, there is a clear and inevitable reason behind this cross-disciplinary support: deep family ties.
Under the concept of 'Connect, Open, and Bloom,' Yokomine aims to pass on the 'baton' of encouragement and support she received as a professional athlete to the next generation, hoping that the children who receive support will eventually become the ones 'giving' it. SAKURA BATON aims for a 'cycle of support' that continues across generations.
'I lived in Sumida City before I got married and have a special attachment to this town. I want to pass the baton I received to children with a future. Even if the sport is different, the feeling of working hard toward a dream is the same,' said Sakura Yokomine.
'We accept Sakura Yokomine's vision alongside the children. While cross-sport support is a challenge with few precedents, we will take responsibility for youth development so that we can firmly pass the entrusted baton to the next generation. I am truly happy that my long-standing connection with Mr. Morikawa has led to such a wonderful project,' said Yudai Suga, Representative of Fugador Sumida.
Why 'Golf x Futsal'? — Family Ties and Personal Connections
The reason SAKURA BATON chose Fugador Sumida is rooted in dual family connections. Sakura Yokomine herself lived in Sumida City before marriage, and her husband, Yotaro Morikawa, has long supported Fugador Sumida's players as a mental trainer. The combination of Yokomine's connection as a former resident and her husband's professional connection made Fugador Sumida a very natural choice for support, even beyond the sport of golf.
Yokomine has visited the team's matches and was deeply moved by the children chasing their dreams on the pitch, as well as the coaches, parents, and players supporting them. Having given birth to her eldest son in 2021 and returned to the tour as a 'mom pro golfer,' she says her desire to 'pass on what I have received to the next generation' became even clearer.
Why 'All Youth Categories'? — Supporting the Entire Road to Professionalism
There is a clear philosophy behind SAKURA BATON's decision to support all four development categories of Fugador Sumida simultaneously. The steps to becoming a futsal player start from U-12, through U-15 and U-18, to the Satellite level (Buffaloes) just before the top team. If only one step of this ladder is supported, the path to the dream may be interrupted. SAKURA BATON believes that true 'development' support means backing the entire process as children walk toward their professional goals.
It is extremely rare for a support project started by an individual athlete to serve as the chest sponsor for all development categories of an F-League club. This structure embodies Sakura Yokomine's strong will to support the 'entire journey toward the dream.' The funds provided will be used to directly improve the competitive environment for the children and players.
About Fugador Sumida
Fugador Sumida is a professional futsal club in the Japan Futsal F-League. Based in Sumida, Tokyo, the club boasts a consistent reinforcement system from the top team down to the youth levels.
The support targets all four of the club's development categories: Eggs (U-12/Elementary school), Wings (U-15/Junior high school), Falcons (U-18/High school), and Buffaloes (Satellite). This consistent support covers the entire journey from elementary age to the satellite level just before the professional stage.
It is rare for a top pro golfer with 23 domestic tour wins and a 2009 money list title to support the youth development of a different sport like futsal. However, there is a clear and inevitable reason behind this cross-disciplinary support: deep family ties.
Under the concept of 'Connect, Open, and Bloom,' Yokomine aims to pass on the 'baton' of encouragement and support she received as a professional athlete to the next generation, hoping that the children who receive support will eventually become the ones 'giving' it. SAKURA BATON aims for a 'cycle of support' that continues across generations.
'I lived in Sumida City before I got married and have a special attachment to this town. I want to pass the baton I received to children with a future. Even if the sport is different, the feeling of working hard toward a dream is the same,' said Sakura Yokomine.
'We accept Sakura Yokomine's vision alongside the children. While cross-sport support is a challenge with few precedents, we will take responsibility for youth development so that we can firmly pass the entrusted baton to the next generation. I am truly happy that my long-standing connection with Mr. Morikawa has led to such a wonderful project,' said Yudai Suga, Representative of Fugador Sumida.
Why 'Golf x Futsal'? — Family Ties and Personal Connections
The reason SAKURA BATON chose Fugador Sumida is rooted in dual family connections. Sakura Yokomine herself lived in Sumida City before marriage, and her husband, Yotaro Morikawa, has long supported Fugador Sumida's players as a mental trainer. The combination of Yokomine's connection as a former resident and her husband's professional connection made Fugador Sumida a very natural choice for support, even beyond the sport of golf.
Yokomine has visited the team's matches and was deeply moved by the children chasing their dreams on the pitch, as well as the coaches, parents, and players supporting them. Having given birth to her eldest son in 2021 and returned to the tour as a 'mom pro golfer,' she says her desire to 'pass on what I have received to the next generation' became even clearer.
Why 'All Youth Categories'? — Supporting the Entire Road to Professionalism
There is a clear philosophy behind SAKURA BATON's decision to support all four development categories of Fugador Sumida simultaneously. The steps to becoming a futsal player start from U-12, through U-15 and U-18, to the Satellite level (Buffaloes) just before the top team. If only one step of this ladder is supported, the path to the dream may be interrupted. SAKURA BATON believes that true 'development' support means backing the entire process as children walk toward their professional goals.
It is extremely rare for a support project started by an individual athlete to serve as the chest sponsor for all development categories of an F-League club. This structure embodies Sakura Yokomine's strong will to support the 'entire journey toward the dream.' The funds provided will be used to directly improve the competitive environment for the children and players.
About Fugador Sumida
Fugador Sumida is a professional futsal club in the Japan Futsal F-League. Based in Sumida, Tokyo, the club boasts a consistent reinforcement system from the top team down to the youth levels.