Rakuten Eagles to Present 'Rakuten Eagles Caps' to 52,120 New First-Grade Elementary School Students in 1,649 Schools Across Tohoku Six Prefectures

Rakuten Baseball Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Miyagino-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Seiji Morii) is pleased to announce that, as part of its 'TOHOKU SMILE ACTION' initiative, which aims to foster children's dreams and bring energy and excitement to the people of Tohoku through baseball and sports, it will present 'Rakuten Eagles Caps' to new first-grade elementary school students in the six Tohoku prefectures as a commemorative gift for their enrollment.

This initiative, supported by the six Tohoku prefectures and their respective municipal boards of education, began in 2014 and is now in its 13th year. In 2026, caps will be presented to 52,120 new first-grade elementary school students in 1,649 schools (including national, public, private, special needs, and nursing schools) across Tohoku.

Furthermore, in 2026, Rakuten Eagles Ambassador Ginji, Takero Okajima, members of the official cheerleading squad Tohoku Golden Angels, and the team's official mascots will visit one elementary school in each of the six Tohoku prefectures for their entrance ceremonies to hold presentation ceremonies.

Wishes Embodied in the 'Rakuten Eagles Cap'

In the 2013 season, the Rakuten Eagles won their first Japan Series championship in the ninth year since the team's establishment. Everyone, from the manager, coaches, and players to the team staff and employees, felt that the warm and passionate support from the people who love Tohoku was the driving force behind the team, and they reaffirmed their desire to 'energize Tohoku through sports,' which led to this initiative.

The 'Rakuten Eagles Cap' is presented with the wish that elementary school students in the six Tohoku prefectures can attend school energetically every day and spend six years happily with their friends.

＜Overview of 'Rakuten Eagles Cap' Presentation in 2026＞

Number of Presents (as of April 2): Total 1,649 schools, 52,120 people in Tohoku six prefectures

Aomori Prefecture [246 schools / 7,153 people] Akita Prefecture [174 schools / 4,727 people]

Iwate Prefecture [261 schools / 7,016 people] Yamagata Prefecture [230 schools / 6,622 people]

Miyagi Prefecture [357 schools / 15,161 people] Fukushima Prefecture [381 schools / 11,441 people]

【Reference】'Rakuten Eagles Cap' Presentation Results

*Tohoku six prefectures

2014 [2,114 schools / 74,877 people] 2015 [2,059 schools / 72,275 people]

2016 [1,991 schools / 71,731 people] 2017 [1,952 schools / 69,987 people]

2018 [1,917 schools / 67,437 people] 2019 [1,856 schools / 64,657 people]

2020 [1,791 schools / 66,264 people] 2021 [1,788 schools / 67,129 people]

2022 [1,673 schools / 60,798 people] 2023 [1,667 schools / 58,521 people]

2024 [1,668 schools / 57,158 people] 2025 [1,691 schools / 55,528 people]

Total [22,167 schools / 786,362 people]

Presentation Ceremony (Planned)

・Fukushima Prefecture: April 6 (Mon) Fukushima City Fukushima Daiyon Elementary School

・Aomori Prefecture: April 7 (Tue) Hachinohe City Joka Elementary School

・Yamagata Prefecture: April 8 (Wed) Tendo City Tsuyama Elementary School

・Iwate Prefecture: April 8 (Wed) Rikuzentakata City Hirota Elementary School

・Akita Prefecture: April 9 (Thu) Misato Town Sennan Elementary School (Hometown of player Itsuki Ito)

・Miyagi Prefecture: April 9 (Thu) Higashimatsushima City Akai Minami Elementary School (Hometown of player Seiya Ouchi)

*Caps will be shipped sequentially to each school from late March.

Scene from the 2025 presentation ceremony

Sponsorship: Yamaya Corporation

Other Initiatives

The following initiatives are also implemented for new first-grade elementary school students who receive the 'Rakuten Eagles Cap'.

＜Invitation to Watch Games＞

・Targeted First Team Official Games

【New first-grade elementary school students in Miyagi Prefecture】

June 9 (Tue) - 11 (Thu) vs. Yomiuri Giants [Game starts at 18:00]

June 12 (Fri) vs. Hiroshima Toyo Carp [Game starts at 18:00]

【New first-grade elementary school students in Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, and Fukushima Prefectures】

May 5 (Tue/Holiday), 6 (Wed/Holiday) vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters [Game starts at 14:00]

May 23 (Sat) vs. Chiba Lotte Marines [Game starts at 14:00]

May 24 (Sun) vs. Chiba Lotte Marines [Game starts at 13:00]

・Targeted Farm League Official Games

May 24 (Sun) Kirayaka Stadium (Yamagata City) vs. Oisix Niigata Albirex Baseball Club [Game starts at 13:00]

June 13 (Sat) Komachi Stadium (Akita City) vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars [Game starts at 13:00]

June 14 (Sun) Kitagin Ballpark (Morioka City) vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars [Game starts at 13:00]

July 11 (Sat) Rakuten Eagles Kiseki no Ipponmatsu Stadium (Rikuzentakata City) vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters [Game starts at 12:00]

July 12 (Sun) Rakuten Eagles Heisei no Mori Stadium (Minamisanriku Town) vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters [Game starts at 12:00]

August 14 (Fri), 15 (Sat) Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi (Sendai City) vs. Chiba Lotte Marines [Game starts at 18:00]

August 16 (Sun) Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi (Sendai City) vs. Chiba Lotte Marines [Game starts at 16:00]

September 13 (Sun) York Kaiseizan Stadium (Koriyama City) vs. Oisix Niigata Albirex Baseball Club [Game starts at 12:00]

・Application Method: Pre-application via the application form described in the cap and distributed leaflet.

*Siblings under junior high school age are also free.

*Accompanying guardians will be offered a preferential price.

＜Post-Game Field Walk Held＞

・Targeted Games: May 5 (Tue/Holiday), 6 (Wed/Holiday) vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters [Game starts at 14:00]

・Participants: First-grade elementary school students and their families who have a game ticket for the day and wear a cap with the year '2026' (first 500 groups).

・How to Participate

① Please pick up a participation ticket at the "Keisei Electric Railway Skyliner Eagles Kids Station."

② After the game, please gather at [GATE 10 vicinity, left field entrance].

＜Original Can Badge Present for Wearing 'Rakuten Eagles Cap'＞

・Recipients: New first-graders who have a game ticket for the day and wear a cap with the year '2026'.

・Distribution Location: Keisei Electric Railway Skyliner Eagles Kids Station

Please refer to the TOHOKU SMILE ACTION special site below.

Special Site

Provided Materials

https://rak.box.com/s/e0hbxibhw0ffv2mrod0orjtstbalh39h

*When using photos, please include the credit "©Rakuten Eagles" or "Provided by Rakuten Baseball Co., Ltd."