DeNA Kawasaki Brave Thunders Signs Official Supplier Agreement with Mizuno Corporation

DeNA Kawasaki Brave Thunders (Headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Wataru Kawasaki, hereinafter referred to as Kawasaki Brave Thunders) has signed a new official supplier agreement with Mizuno Corporation (Headquarters: Osaka City, President: Akito Mizuno, hereinafter referred to as Mizuno), a comprehensive sports equipment manufacturer.

Mizuno celebrates its 120th anniversary, and Kawasaki Brave Thunders marks its 76th year since its establishment. Both companies, carrying long histories and traditions, have formed a partnership to "create the next history" that goes beyond mere uniform provision.

Bringing the excitement of the arena into Kawasaki's daily life. And to the environment of children who will carry the future. Mizuno's technology, which has continued to support Japanese sports, and the overwhelming passion cultivated by Kawasaki Brave Thunders will merge, and the most ambitious challenge in the B.League will begin here.

Future Goals of Both Companies

Bringing Mizuno's reliable technology to basketball products.

By introducing Mizuno's technology, which has a proven track record in various sports, and its products with outstanding functionality to Kawasaki Brave Thunders, we will elevate basketball as a sport to even greater heights. This will benefit not only the top team but also the youth team and students of "THUNDERS KIDS," Kawasaki Brave Thunders' basketball school, the largest in the B.League. We aim for a future where Mizuno is present at the first moment of experiencing basketball.

Moving beyond the arena to turn the city into an exciting court.

Under the theme "THUNDERS IN THE CITY," Kawasaki Brave Thunders has aimed to create opportunities to experience the team beyond the arena, within the city itself. Transforming "daily life routes" into "extraordinary entertainment spaces." Together, we will create a new urban landscape where the daily routes and walls are colored by the players in Mizuno's new uniforms and the everyday scenes of basketball, allowing people to feel the passion of Kawasaki Brave Thunders when they go out into the city.

Making Kawasaki a "city where you can always play basketball."

We will pool the strength of the Mizuno Group, which holds a high share in Japan for basketball hoops used in physical education. Continuing the outreach activities that Kawasaki Brave Thunders has carried out, we will work with the Mizuno Group, which has a high share in Japan for basketball hoops used in physical education, to promote the creation of an environment where anyone can easily start and continue playing basketball.

Wataru Kawasaki, President, DeNA Kawasaki Brave Thunders

I deeply resonate with Mizuno's bold challenge of "making a full-scale entry into the B.League" even after 120 years of history. This partnership is not just about changing the uniforms the players wear. It is a challenge to create a new landscape in Kawasaki's daily life by merging Mizuno's proud uncompromising craftsmanship with the overwhelming passion we have generated in the arena. We will increase the number of hoops in the city and have the Thunders color the daily routes. We will earnestly shape a world where basketball is a natural part of this city's scenery, together with Mizuno. Looking ahead to the opening of the new arena in 2030, we will build the next history of basketball from Kawasaki with this strong bond.

Akito Mizuno, President, Mizuno Corporation

I am extremely pleased to announce the signing of an official supplier agreement with Kawasaki Brave Thunders. The aspiration of Kawasaki Brave Thunders, "Creating the Future of Basketball from Kawasaki," shares many commonalities with our own vision at Mizuno, which is to deliver new value to regions and society through the power of sports. Through this initiative, we aim to expand basketball into the daily lives of Kawasaki's citizens and create new excitement and culture together with the local community. We will continue to promote the challenge of "rewriting the future of basketball from Kawasaki" with Kawasaki Brave Thunders.

About Kawasaki Brave Thunders

A professional basketball club belonging to the "B.LEAGUE," which has been active with Kawasaki City as its home town for 76 years since its establishment in 1950. The club's mission is "MAKE THE FUTURE OF BASKETBALL ~Creating the Future of Basketball from Kawasaki~."

Including its predecessor, the Toshiba Basketball Team, the club has won the league championship 4 times and the Emperor's Cup 5 times, achieving a club-first consecutive Emperor's Cup victories in 2021 and 2022.

https://kawasaki-bravethunders.com/

About Mizuno

Since its founding in 1906, Mizuno Corporation has operated under the management philosophy of "Contributing to society through better sports products and the promotion of sports," engaging in the manufacturing and sale of sports products, operation of sports facilities, and various school programs.

In recent years, it has been actively developing products and services that utilize the value of sports in daily life, making it a comprehensive sports equipment manufacturer.

https://corp.mizuno.com/jp