Kashima City (Mayor: Koichi Nishikiori), Mercari, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Shintaro Yamada; hereinafter "Mercari"), and Kashima Antlers F.C. Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Fumiyuki Koizumi; hereinafter "Kashima Antlers") are pleased to announce that a signing ceremony for the "Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on Regional Revitalization Projects in Kashima City," aimed at solving regional issues through the promotion of smart city projects, was held on Tuesday, February 18, at the Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium.
Going forward, Kashima City, Mercari, and Kashima Antlers will collaborate to achieve a sustainable regional society. Furthermore, they will actively plan and promote projects to make this a pioneering example of a Japanese professional soccer club serving as a hub for regional revitalization under the theme of "Sports x Technology."
1. Name
"Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on Regional Revitalization Projects in Kashima City"
2. Date of Agreement
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
3. Purpose and Background of the Agreement
This comprehensive partnership agreement is concluded with the aim of contributing to the revitalization of the regional economy, among other things, through the utilization of Mercari's information and communication technologies and the resources of Kashima Antlers, whose hometowns are the five cities in the Hokko region.
Through the conclusion of this agreement, the three parties will work together to promote projects for regional revitalization, unconstrained by public and private sector boundaries.
4. Overview of the Agreement
(1) Promotion of smart city projects through a three-party collaboration among Kashima City, Mercari, and Kashima Antlers
(2) Planning and execution of regional revitalization centered on the professional soccer club "Kashima Antlers"
1. Scheduled to conduct a demonstration experiment for the introduction of biometric authentication at Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium
2. The "Kashima Antlers Business Club," launched this season, is scheduled to provide new business opportunities related to this agreement to local businesses and others
(3) Resolution of issues in Kashima City and its surrounding areas through the utilization of public and private data, information and communication technologies, etc.
(4) Planning and implementation of other regional revitalization projects in Kashima City
(5) In addition to the preceding items, matters agreed upon by Kashima City, Mercari, and Kashima Antlers
[Overview of Kashima City]
Location: Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Mayor: Koichi Nishikiori
[Overview of Mercari]
Company Name: Mercari, Inc.
Location: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Business Activities: Planning, development, and operation of the smartphone flea market app "Mercari"
Representative Name: Shintaro Yamada
[Overview of Kashima Antlers F.C.]
Company Name: Kashima Antlers F.C. Co., Ltd.
Location: 2887 Aotohigashiyama, Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Business Activities: Operation of a professional soccer club, designated management of Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium
Representative Name: Fumiyuki Koizumi
[Comment from Koichi Nishikiori, Mayor of Kashima City]
I am extremely pleased to have concluded this agreement with Kashima Antlers and Mercari, and I have high expectations for future initiatives. Regions face various challenges, including a declining birthrate and aging population, which are difficult to solve with the efforts of the administration alone. I hope that this agreement will serve as an opportunity for the three parties to collaborate and promote town development from a new perspective, utilizing information and communication technologies and the resources of Kashima Antlers.
[Comment from Fumiyuki Koizumi, President of Kashima Antlers]
In an era where new technologies will enter society and make people's lives more convenient, it will be crucial how we, as a professional football club, utilize our strengths for the town development of Kashima City, our hometown. Valuing the history that Kashima Antlers has built with the community, and with the understanding of the citizens, I hope that Kashima City, Mercari, and Kashima Antlers will work together as one to contribute to the development of the region.