[Regional Revitalization] Nakano Ward's First U-15 Soccer Club Becomes the "Engine" for Community Creation. NPO Lugar Forms Strategic Partnership with ICE Co., Ltd., and Kinya Sakamoto Appointed as New Vice Representative.
NPO Lugar has formed a strategic partnership with ICE Co., Ltd. and established "Especial FC," Nakano Ward's first U-15 soccer club. Focusing on regional revitalization and "growth as individuals," Kinya Sakamoto, Representative Director of ICE Co., Ltd., has been appointed as the new Vice Representative of NPO Lugar.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 20:20
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 11:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 4, 2026 at 11:33 (1 min after Collected)
“Connecting the future with richness of heart”—NPO Lugar (Location: Nakano Ward, Tokyo; Representative: Kosei Kamio), which engages in elderly support and inclusive community activities, has formed a strategic partnership agreement with ICE Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kinya Sakamoto). Concurrently, Kinya Sakamoto, Representative Director of ICE Co., Ltd., has been appointed as the new Vice Representative of NPO Lugar. We announce that he will strongly promote the project to establish "Especial FC" (Especial FC), Nakano Ward's first U-15 soccer club, and "Especial Soccer School" to revitalize the community.
NPO Lugar: In Spanish, "Lugar" means [place, whereabouts].
Mayor Naoto Sakai of Nakano Ward and NPO Lugar Representative Kamio (right) at the time of signing the agreement with Nakano Ward.
■ Signed NIC+ Agreement
NPO Lugar and Nakano Ward signed the Nakano Ward Regional Comprehensive Care Promotion Partnership (NIC+) Agreement on September 12. Through NPO Lugar's support for daily life difficulties, we will promote the creation of a safe, secure, and comfortable community for everyone.
■ Not making soccer the goal. Establishing a club as an "engine" for NPO activities
NPO Lugar signed the Nakano Ward Regional Comprehensive Promotion Partnership (NIC+) Agreement in September 2025 and has been working on support for watchful care and measures against loneliness and isolation. Our goal is not sales figures but to nurture "invisible capital" such as wisdom, trust, and empathy.
"Especial FC," which is being established this time, is not just a place for sports. Under the philosophy of "Not making sports the goal. Using sports as an 'engine,'" it is the core of "NAKANO CO-CREATION LAB," a practical co-creation hub where diverse fields such as education, welfare, economy, and culture, and people intersect, centered on soccer. Through the club, we will create a circular community of "growing up locally, succeeding locally, and giving back locally" and develop young people who will support the future of the region.
Improving soccer skills, of course, but even more, cherishing "growth as a person."
■ Resonance of philosophy and high affinity. Background of partnership with ICE Co., Ltd. and appointment as Vice Representative
To achieve this grand vision, we have formed a strategic partnership with ICE Co., Ltd. The management philosophy of ICE Co., Ltd., "Enriching the heart," deeply aligns with our organization's theme of "A future connected by richness of heart."
Furthermore, ICE Co., Ltd.'s sports-related businesses and regional revitalization initiatives to date have a very high affinity with this project's goal of "creating a circular community starting from sports." With Mr. Kinya Sakamoto, Representative Director of the company, who is aligned in both philosophy and business, taking office as Vice Representative, the club's operational foundation and co-creation program development will dramatically accelerate. We will maximize the output of sports as an "engine" and solidify a new model of industry-government-academia collaboration in Nakano Ward.
Representative Kamio, who has experience in player development at Tokyo Verdy Soccer School and Hamamatsu FC.
■ Especial FC's unique philosophy
Meaning embedded in the club name: "Especial," meaning "special" in Spanish, is combined with the corporate name "Lugar" to mean "special place." We provide diverse programs such as vocational experiences and volunteer activities so that the local community becomes a special place for children.
Team slogan "Kanpu Fudo" (感孚風動): This expresses the desire to "become individuals who can impress and influence those around them." We cultivate individuals with leadership that possesses "initiative" to make decisions themselves, "strength" not to be broken by difficulties, "flexibility" to accept the unexpected, and "influence" to involve others.
Uniform embodying the symbol of Nakano Ward: The main uniform features green, inspired by Nakano Ward's tree, the "Shii tree." The sub-uniform uses blue, the ward's logo color, and the goalkeeper's uniform uses pink, the ward's flower, the "Azalea." The emblem features the "Black-headed gull," Tokyo's bird, fostering local love that will carry the next generation of Nakano Ward.
■ Comments from each representative
Kosei Kamio, Representative of NPO Lugar:
"The true purpose of our activities is to form a sustainable local community. This time, welcoming ICE Co., Ltd., which also values 'richness of heart' and has high affinity in the fields of sports and regional creation, and Mr. Sakamoto as Vice Representative, will be the greatest driving force for the club. Together with Mr. Sakamoto, a professional in business and organizational development, we will vigorously promote the creation of a co-creation hub connecting administration, companies, and the community, and disseminate a new social system from Nakano Ward."
[New Vice Representative] Kinya Sakamoto, Representative Director of ICE Co., Ltd.
Keywords:
NPO Lugar: In Spanish, "Lugar" means [place, whereabouts].
Mayor Naoto Sakai of Nakano Ward and NPO Lugar Representative Kamio (right) at the time of signing the agreement with Nakano Ward.
■ Signed NIC+ Agreement
NPO Lugar and Nakano Ward signed the Nakano Ward Regional Comprehensive Care Promotion Partnership (NIC+) Agreement on September 12. Through NPO Lugar's support for daily life difficulties, we will promote the creation of a safe, secure, and comfortable community for everyone.
■ Not making soccer the goal. Establishing a club as an "engine" for NPO activities
NPO Lugar signed the Nakano Ward Regional Comprehensive Promotion Partnership (NIC+) Agreement in September 2025 and has been working on support for watchful care and measures against loneliness and isolation. Our goal is not sales figures but to nurture "invisible capital" such as wisdom, trust, and empathy.
"Especial FC," which is being established this time, is not just a place for sports. Under the philosophy of "Not making sports the goal. Using sports as an 'engine,'" it is the core of "NAKANO CO-CREATION LAB," a practical co-creation hub where diverse fields such as education, welfare, economy, and culture, and people intersect, centered on soccer. Through the club, we will create a circular community of "growing up locally, succeeding locally, and giving back locally" and develop young people who will support the future of the region.
Improving soccer skills, of course, but even more, cherishing "growth as a person."
■ Resonance of philosophy and high affinity. Background of partnership with ICE Co., Ltd. and appointment as Vice Representative
To achieve this grand vision, we have formed a strategic partnership with ICE Co., Ltd. The management philosophy of ICE Co., Ltd., "Enriching the heart," deeply aligns with our organization's theme of "A future connected by richness of heart."
Furthermore, ICE Co., Ltd.'s sports-related businesses and regional revitalization initiatives to date have a very high affinity with this project's goal of "creating a circular community starting from sports." With Mr. Kinya Sakamoto, Representative Director of the company, who is aligned in both philosophy and business, taking office as Vice Representative, the club's operational foundation and co-creation program development will dramatically accelerate. We will maximize the output of sports as an "engine" and solidify a new model of industry-government-academia collaboration in Nakano Ward.
Representative Kamio, who has experience in player development at Tokyo Verdy Soccer School and Hamamatsu FC.
■ Especial FC's unique philosophy
Meaning embedded in the club name: "Especial," meaning "special" in Spanish, is combined with the corporate name "Lugar" to mean "special place." We provide diverse programs such as vocational experiences and volunteer activities so that the local community becomes a special place for children.
Team slogan "Kanpu Fudo" (感孚風動): This expresses the desire to "become individuals who can impress and influence those around them." We cultivate individuals with leadership that possesses "initiative" to make decisions themselves, "strength" not to be broken by difficulties, "flexibility" to accept the unexpected, and "influence" to involve others.
Uniform embodying the symbol of Nakano Ward: The main uniform features green, inspired by Nakano Ward's tree, the "Shii tree." The sub-uniform uses blue, the ward's logo color, and the goalkeeper's uniform uses pink, the ward's flower, the "Azalea." The emblem features the "Black-headed gull," Tokyo's bird, fostering local love that will carry the next generation of Nakano Ward.
■ Comments from each representative
Kosei Kamio, Representative of NPO Lugar:
"The true purpose of our activities is to form a sustainable local community. This time, welcoming ICE Co., Ltd., which also values 'richness of heart' and has high affinity in the fields of sports and regional creation, and Mr. Sakamoto as Vice Representative, will be the greatest driving force for the club. Together with Mr. Sakamoto, a professional in business and organizational development, we will vigorously promote the creation of a co-creation hub connecting administration, companies, and the community, and disseminate a new social system from Nakano Ward."
[New Vice Representative] Kinya Sakamoto, Representative Director of ICE Co., Ltd.
Keywords: