Announcement of General Manager Takuya Kita's Retirement and Kenji Sato's Appointment as New General Manager

We are announcing that General Manager Takuya Kita will be retiring at his own request.

We also wish to express our utmost respect for Mr. Takuya Kita's immense contributions to the Kawasaki Brave Thunders for over 30 years as a player, head coach, and general manager. It has been decided that Mr. Takuya Kita will newly assume the position of "Club Fellow" for our club, and we are announcing this as well.

Assistant General Manager Kenji Sato will be appointed as the successor General Manager. Under the new structure, we will compete in the B.PREMIER, which begins in the 2026-27 season.

What is a Club Fellow?

A "Fellow" is a title bestowed upon special comrades who have made long-term, significant contributions to our club and will continue to share our vision. It is an honorary position to show gratitude and respect to Mr. Takuya Kita, and to maintain our relationship as "Thunders Family" going forward.

[General Manager Retirement] Takuya Kita Profile

Date of Birth May 29, 1972

Place of Birth Ishikawa Prefecture

Alma Mater Hakui High School Takushoku University

Career Summary 1995-2008 Player, Toshiba Red Thunders (now Kawasaki Brave Thunders) 2008-2011 Assistant Coach, Toshiba Brave Thunders (now Kawasaki Brave Thunders) 2011-2019 Head Coach, Toshiba Brave Thunders 2019-2026 General Manager, Kawasaki Brave Thunders

National Team Experience 1995 Universiade Japan National Team 2000-02 Japan National Team

Comments

Thank you always for your passionate support of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.

On a personal note, I will be retiring as General Manager at the end of this season.

I have been involved with the club for 31 seasons, as a player, coach, and General Manager, dating back to its predecessor, Toshiba. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the fans, sponsors, Kawasaki City residents, and many stakeholders who have always supported me warmly.

The club will be moving to a new stage called "B.PREMIER" starting next season. I believe that under the new structure of General Manager Kenji Sato and Head Coach Dai Oketani, we will continue to take on challenges that exceed the expectations of all stakeholders. Furthermore, I sincerely hope that the Kawasaki Brave Thunders will continue to grow and leap into the future beyond, towards the opening of the new arena in 2030.

I express my deepest gratitude to everyone I have met through basketball, and I ask for your continued passionate support for the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.

BE BRAVE

[New General Manager Appointment] Kenji Sato Profile

​Date of Birth December 14, 1972

Place of Birth Nara Prefecture

Alma Mater Rakunan High School Aoyama Gakuin University

Career Summary 2002-2011 Player, Toshiba Brave Thunders (now Kawasaki Brave Thunders) 2011-2019 Assistant Coach, Toshiba Brave Thunders (now Kawasaki Brave Thunders) 2019-2024 Head Coach, Kawasaki Brave Thunders 2024-2025 Assistant Coach, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (Germany) 2025-2026 Assistant General Manager, Kawasaki Brave Thunders 2026- General Manager, Kawasaki Brave Thunders

Comments

I am Kenji Sato, and I have been appointed General Manager of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders starting from the 2026-27 season.

First, I would like to express my deep respect and sincere gratitude to the former General Manager, Takuya Kita, for building the strong foundation of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders and making immense contributions. The reason we are able to stand at the starting line of a new challenge now is none other than the wonderful tradition and achievements that Mr. Kita poured his passion into and protected. I have worked with Mr. Kita for approximately 24 years, starting from our time as players. This time is an invaluable asset to me.

While carefully inheriting this proud tradition and the time we have spent together, I aim for further evolution towards the future by adding my own unique touch. Furthermore, I am determined to build a "new team culture" with everyone's hands, where each member can express their individuality and elevate each other. Our goal is a team that embodies "BE BRAVE," always taking a step forward without being intimidated by any difficulties or changes. I am convinced that the accumulation of bold challenges, without fear of failure, will grow us into an overwhelmingly "strong team." I will do my utmost to deliver excitement and results that exceed the expectations of all the Thunders Family members who always support the club.

Please look forward to the future challenges of the reborn Kawasaki Brave Thunders.

Comment from Wataru Kawasaki, President and CEO

To all members of the Thunders Family, thank you for your continued passionate support of the team. Today, General Manager Takuya Kita, who has led the Kawasaki Brave Thunders for many years and made immense contributions, will be retiring.

Since joining as a player for the Toshiba Red Thunders, he has also played for the Japanese national team and achieved great accomplishments, leading to his number being retired by our club. Then, changing his roles to Head Coach and General Manager, he dedicated over 30 years to the club's development. On behalf of the club, I express my sincere respect and gratitude for his extraordinary efforts.

His unwavering commitment to the "BE BRAVE" team culture and his pursuit of victory at all times have been deeply etched in the hearts of players, staff, and all members of the Thunders Family, forming the club's solid foundation. Without Mr. Kita, the current Kawasaki Brave Thunders would undoubtedly not exist. Mr. Kita's journey is, in essence, the history of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders itself. As a token of the club's respect and gratitude, we have decided to maintain his connection with the club in a special capacity as "Club Fellow." Although he will be stepping away from day-to-day operations, he will always remain a valued comrade of the Thunders Family.

And now, the club is transitioning to a new structure under General Manager Kenji Sato. Mr. Sato, who has learned Mr. Kita's philosophy for many years, experienced both the good and bad times of the club, and has also gained new knowledge and perspectives from the outside world by going to Germany, is the most suitable successor to entrust with this important baton.

We are determined to build a new history as a united club under the new structure, on the solid foundation left by Mr. Kita, for our leap into the B.LEAGUE PREMIER starting in the 2026-27 season, and towards the ambitious goal of becoming Asia's No. 1 club. Thunders Family, we ask you to once again offer our utmost gratitude and applause for the immeasurable achievements of General Manager Takuya Kita over many years. And we ask for your continued passionate support for the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.