Bringing Smiles Across Japan with "Walking Football" for Everyone: JFA and KIRIN Co-Host "Walking Hiroba" Kickoff Event!

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (President COO Takeshi Minakata, hereinafter "Kirin"), an official top partner of the Japan Football Association (JFA)*1, will co-host the "JFA-Kirin Walking Hiroba" kickoff event, utilizing "walking football," with the Japan Football Association (hereinafter "JFA") at JFA Yume Field Takamado Memorial (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture). Through "walking football" events, where adults and children can enjoy playing together regardless of football experience, age, gender, or disability, and deepen connections and bonds with friends, we will create connections between people.

*1 Kirin has supported the Japan national football team since 1978 and became an official top partner of the Japan Football Association in January 2023.

Amidst challenges such as weakening community ties and loneliness among the elderly, "walking football," which anyone can easily participate in, provides an opportunity to create natural interactions between people. "Walking Hiroba" is a JFA initiative to spread places where smiles are born nationwide, utilizing this "walking football" played by walking. Kirin agrees with this purpose and participates in creating daily opportunities to foster connections between people through football. The "JFA-Kirin Walking Hiroba" (regular sessions) in which Kirin participates will start accepting applications from Friday, May 1st, and the kickoff event*2 will be held on Saturday, May 23rd. On the day of the kickoff event, former SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national football team) player Michihiro Yasuda will be welcomed as a guest. By having the guest and participants join the same team and enjoy "walking football" together, connections between people will be created.

*2 The application period for the kickoff event is from Tuesday, March 24th to Wednesday, May 20th at 17:00 (first-come, first-served).

Our company aims to solve social issues through co-creation of value with JFA, and is working on "Community," one of Kirin's CSV purposes, towards a sustainable society. Until now, we have supported football with fans and supporters, mainly through special sponsorship of Japan national football team matches such as the "Kirin Challenge Cup." Underlying this is the belief that football has "the power to connect people, people and society, and energize the world," and the desire to "spread smiles through connections with people and society through football."

Our company, which has supported the Japan national football team for nearly half a century since 1978, has been an official top partner of the Japan Football Association since January 2023, supporting all categories including "SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national football team)," "Nadeshiko Japan (Japan women's national football team)," "Under-category Japan national team," "Futsal Japan national team," "Beach Soccer Japan national team," "e-football Japan national team," and "Para-football Japan national team." In addition, by supporting all JFA projects, such as nurturing the next generation, we aim to support the mental and physical well-being of people and realize a rich society where people are connected.

The Kirin Group contributes to the realization of a rich society by creating new joys in "food and health" through manufacturing that focuses on nature and people.

■ Event Outline

・Name: "JFA-Kirin Walking Hiroba" Kickoff Event

・Organizers: Japan Football Association, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

・Location: JFA Yume Field Takamado Memorial (11 Mihama, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture)

　*No parking is available. Please use nearby paid parking lots if you come by car.

・Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

　Reception 13:00-13:30, Event time 13:30-15:20

　*Held in light rain, canceled in stormy weather.

・Content: 4-5 player walking football without goalkeepers (JFA recommended rules)

　Approximately 3 matches per team are planned.

・Target: First 40 applicants

・Application period: March 24 (Tue) - May 20 (Wed) 17:00 (first-come, first-served)

・Kickoff event application form: https://t.co/qVuMzlg3fs

　*JFA ID acquisition and JFA Passport registration (free) are required for application.

・Guest: Michihiro Yasuda, former SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national football team) player

・Participation fee: Free

■ About "JFA-Kirin Walking Hiroba" (regular sessions)

・Details of each session, including application information, will be announced sequentially on this website (Walking Hiroba | Grassroots | JFA | Japan Football Association).

・Application start date: May 1st