Kozuki Foundation Opens Applications for 25th (FY2026) "Athlete Support Program"!

The Kozuki Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 25th (FY2026) "Athlete Support Program."

The Foundation was established by Kagemasa Kozuki, founder and Representative Director and Chairman of Konami Group Corporation. Through over 40 years of activity, it has promoted a wide range of initiatives, primarily sports-related, with the aim of discovering talented individuals and fostering athletes who will lead the next generation. To date, the Foundation has supported a total of 1,569 athletes.

For the 25th iteration of the "Athlete Support Program," the Foundation will provide an annual grant of 1.2 million yen to promising athletes to create an environment where they can dedicate themselves to sports activities and improve their competitive abilities.

Applications have been widely accepted through general public offering since last year, and eligible recipients will be determined through document screening.

Furthermore, certified athletes of the "Athlete Support Program" who achieve outstanding results in Olympic Games, World Championships, etc., are honored with the "Kozuki Sports Award."

- 2025 "Kozuki Athlete Support Program" Certification Ceremony - 2025 "Kozuki Sports Award" Recipients

25th "Athlete Support Program" Application Overview

Eligibility: - Amateur athletes aiming to participate in Olympic Games, World Championships, etc. - Athletes who, as of April 1, 2026, are primarily enrolled in elementary or junior high school and are engaged in Olympic sports. - Athletes with professional contracts or receiving monetary compensation from sponsor companies are not eligible. - Please refrain from applying if you are currently receiving or applying for grants from other organizations.

Grant Amount: 1.2 million yen annually (100,000 yen per month) Grant Period: 1 year (September 2026 - August 2027) Application Method: Please check the application guidelines on the Foundation's website and send the application form, recommendation letter, and a self-PR video (approx. 2 minutes) via email or postal mail. Application Deadline: Must arrive by Friday, May 22, 2026 Selection Process: Document screening *Results will be notified to all applicants in late June. *Interviews may be conducted depending on the situation. *Those selected for a grant are requested to attend the certification ceremony held in September.

About the Kozuki Foundation

Based on the philosophy that "Japan's future lies in education," the Kozuki Foundation is an organization formed from the Kozuki Education Foundation, which was established in 1982 by Kagemasa Kozuki, founder and Representative Director and Chairman of Konami Group Corporation. It promotes socially demanded activities, including "sports-related businesses" dedicated to fostering top athletes, as well as grants related to education and culture. Through over 40 years of its journey, it has developed activities that promote public welfare, such as fostering the advancement and development of sports, education, and culture, and building a better society.

Kozuki Foundation Address: 1-2-7 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0061 Representative: Kagemasa Kozuki, Chairman Phone Number: 03-5414-2811 Website: https://www.kozuki-foundation.or.jp/ X: https://x.com/KozukiFdn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KOZUKI-FOUNDATION