June 11 Free Hybrid Event: Why I Take Children from Disaster-Stricken Areas to the World Cup [ZESDA Stand UP LIVE #13]

NPO ZESDA (Representative Director: Daisuke Sakuraba; Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) will hold 'ZESDA Stand UP LIVE #13' on Thursday, June 11, 2026. This session will feature Hirokazu Tsunoda, known as 'Chonmage Captain Tsun-san,' who leads the volunteer group Smile for Nippon, discussing the theme: 'Why I take children from disaster-stricken areas to the World Cup.'

About this Live Event (from the speaker):

I am a supporter who cheers for the Japan National Soccer Team while wearing a traditional chonmage hairstyle and samurai armor. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, I have been active in volunteer work, utilizing soccer networks across Japan to support various disaster-stricken areas. My network has expanded to include poverty support in Ethiopia and Nepal, and my activities have spread globally.

My policy is not to join any group, nor to form one myself, but to work on a 'come join me' basis. Because my support reach is broad but shallow, it means I am always a 'beginner.' I want to share the lessons I've learned as a beginner. With this desire, I have given over 500 lectures around the world. To those who cannot take the first step into volunteering or are lost at the entrance, I hope to give you the courage to take that first step. Along with this wish, I hope I, as an eternal beginner, can help push you forward.

[References]
- Third Year of Earthquake Reconstruction: Junior high students from Oku-Noto go to the World Cup; invited by disaster volunteer group to watch Japan vs. Netherlands; local report session, acting as 'ambassadors' linking the world with disaster areas (Hokkoku Shimbun, April 12, 2026).
- Request for 'Supporting Noto's Future Together!' (Project details and donation methods available here).

Recommended for those who:
- Want to view the World Cup not just as 'sports entertainment,' but as a force to drive social change.
- Are interested in disaster area support, child support, and volunteer activities, and want to hear real stories from people working on the ground.
- Want to be inspired by the process of how one person's passion and actions connect regions, children, and the world.

Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026, 19:00-20:30 (Doors open at 18:30; Online check-in from 18:55).
- Format: Hybrid (Physical and Online).
- Physical Venue: Yurakucho (Limited to 20 people; address provided to applicants).
- Online: Held via ZOOM (Link provided upon registration).
- Cost: Free.
- Registration: https://www.kokuchpro.com/event/zsul013/
- Note: Attendees will receive a recording of the session approximately one week later.