Launch of Japan's first corporate-sponsored surfing team "seven x seven SurfTeam" - Start of the athlete discovery audition program "BLUE MONSTER" with Kosuke Kitajima and Connor O'Leary as special judges
FHG HOTELS has established Japan's first corporate surfing team and is launching a YouTube audition program featuring Kosuke Kitajima to discover future Olympic medalists.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 15:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 14:49 (287h 19m after Collected)
Release Overview
FHG HOTELS (Kasumigaseki Capital Group, Representative Director: Hidekazu Ogata), which operates the hotel seven x seven, will operate Japan's first corporate-sponsored surfing club team "seven x seven SurfTeam" based in Ichinomiya Town, Chiba Prefecture.
This team aims to build a new sports model that integrates competition, training, and business, with the goal of winning medals at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Project 1: Surfing Team Business (Core)
Why a team now?
Due to the nature of surfing as an individual sport, training, expeditions, and acquiring sponsors have largely depended on individuals. Because of this structure, there is a problem that talented athletes cannot continue their activities.
This project attempts to solve this problem with a new approach: "comprehensive support by a team" x "content expansion."
New Sports Model
This project is not just a reinforcement team. We aim to create a new sports IP that integrates competition x content x business.
Business Content
- Competition support including overseas expedition expenses
- Team-led training system
- Sponsor/business support
- Continuous support for competitive activities
- Value expansion through content
Desired State
We aim not only to improve competitiveness but also to establish a sustainable sports business.
Project 2: Next-Generation Athlete Discovery Project (Content)
Start of the audition program "BLUE MONSTER -Monster of the Blue Sea-"
In this project, we will develop an audition program "BLUE MONSTER" that visualizes the athlete selection process.
Project Overview
- About 15 people who passed document screening -> Final 7 selected
- Survival format selection process
- Scheduled for advance distribution on Youtube as video content
Purpose
- Discover athletes who have not only competitiveness but also "ability to transmit" and "storytelling"
- Create new value of sports x entertainment
FHG HOTELS (Kasumigaseki Capital Group, Representative Director: Hidekazu Ogata), which operates the hotel seven x seven, will operate Japan's first corporate-sponsored surfing club team "seven x seven SurfTeam" based in Ichinomiya Town, Chiba Prefecture.
This team aims to build a new sports model that integrates competition, training, and business, with the goal of winning medals at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Project 1: Surfing Team Business (Core)
Why a team now?
Due to the nature of surfing as an individual sport, training, expeditions, and acquiring sponsors have largely depended on individuals. Because of this structure, there is a problem that talented athletes cannot continue their activities.
This project attempts to solve this problem with a new approach: "comprehensive support by a team" x "content expansion."
New Sports Model
This project is not just a reinforcement team. We aim to create a new sports IP that integrates competition x content x business.
Business Content
- Competition support including overseas expedition expenses
- Team-led training system
- Sponsor/business support
- Continuous support for competitive activities
- Value expansion through content
Desired State
We aim not only to improve competitiveness but also to establish a sustainable sports business.
Project 2: Next-Generation Athlete Discovery Project (Content)
Start of the audition program "BLUE MONSTER -Monster of the Blue Sea-"
In this project, we will develop an audition program "BLUE MONSTER" that visualizes the athlete selection process.
Project Overview
- About 15 people who passed document screening -> Final 7 selected
- Survival format selection process
- Scheduled for advance distribution on Youtube as video content
Purpose
- Discover athletes who have not only competitiveness but also "ability to transmit" and "storytelling"
- Create new value of sports x entertainment