With the cooperation of LIXIL Corporation, a club official partner, various events were held with the theme of SDGs, development goals to achieve a sustainable and better world by 2030, to encourage everyone to think about and work towards future happiness.
At the entrance gate, the first 15,000 visitors received an original poster featuring visuals of supporters and players, LIXIL's SDGs initiatives, and content highlights such as the popular LIXIL x SPORTS projects "The Session season 4" and the latest "LIXIL CUP."
Under the theme "Antlers Family and SDGs for Everyone," partner companies of Antlers actively involved in SDGs gathered to showcase their initiatives towards achieving the 17 goals. Special booths were set up on Mercari Road outside the stadium and on the second-floor concourse inside the stadium.
The seven participating companies were LIXIL Corporation, Riso Kagaku Corporation, Kaneka Corporation, Suntory Holdings Limited, Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd., Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd., and Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.
・LIXIL Booth "Buy and Contribute! Original Eco Tote Bag Sale"
A limited quantity of 700 original eco tote bags, printed with the newly drawn illustration "Hitotsu ni" by the well-known LIXIL x SPORTS artist Junsei Chida, were sold.
A portion of the sales will be used for an invitation program for children at next season's home games.
・Showa Sangyo "Food Drive"
In cooperation with Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd., Ibaraki Prefecture, and NPO Food Bank Ibaraki, a food drive was conducted to collect and donate food to individuals and welfare organizations in need.
・Toyo Seikan Group Holdings "An ECO experience!"
"Captain BOX," which offers a fun way to play with PET bottle caps, appeared with an original "Antlers Family and SDGs for Everyone" design. Participants received original stickers.
・"Antlers Family and SDGs for Everyone" Stamp Rally
A stamp rally was held where participants collected stamps by visiting the special booths of partner companies participating in "Antlers Family and SDGs for Everyone." There were a total of seven types of stamps. Those who collected four or more stamps from LIXIL, Riso Kagaku, Kaneka, Suntory, Showa Sangyo, Toyo Seikan GHD, and Nishi-Nippon Railroad, and presented them at the special booth on the second-floor concourse of the main stand inside the stadium, received a special original sticker featuring illustrations of all Antlers players by Junsei Chida.
Before the match, Mr. Kinya Seto, Representative Director, Executive Officer, President and CEO of LIXIL Corporation, presented bouquets to the chief referee and the captains of both teams. From Antlers, Yuma Suzuki received the bouquet on behalf of the players.
The "LIXIL Award" was featured in "Shika BIG," a prize draw for attendees, and "Dokodemo Shika BIG," a prize draw open to anyone. Signed uniforms from players who appeared in "The Session Season 4" Vol. 1 to Vol. 7, and pre-match tops signed by players who appeared in the "4th LIXIL CUP" were presented.
Before the match on the day, a press conference was held for the media on "Promoting horizontal recycling of PET bottle resources."
The press conference was attended by Mr. Shinichi Taguchi, Mayor of Kashima City; Mr. Naohiro Takahashi, Executive Officer, Kanto/Koshinetsu Branch Manager of Suntory Foods Limited; Mr. Atsushi Watabe, Manager of Product Development Department, Nippon Closure Co., Ltd. (Toyo Seikan Group); Mr. Takanori Ito, Representative Director and Vice President of Glass Resourcing Co., Ltd.; and Mr. Koizumi, President and CEO of Antlers.
From this match, "horizontal recycling boxes" were installed at Kashima Stadium to promote the "bottle-to-bottle" horizontal recycling of PET bottles, aiming to regenerate used PET bottles into new ones.
Working Vehicle Corner
A large collection of "working vehicles" gathered near the NIPPON STEEL gate outside the stadium!
From the Kashima Police Station, police motorcycles, patrol cars, and a mobile command vehicle appeared. The first 1,000 visitors also received reflective bands to protect pedestrians at night, which were donated through the business club's philosophy support activities. From the Ibaraki Prefectural Headquarters of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, a Type 73 light truck and a Type 96 wheeled armored personnel carrier (WAPC) appeared. Materials explaining the activities and initiatives of the Self-Defense Forces, as well as pocket tissues, were also distributed. From Actio Co., Ltd., a "Super Deck" aerial work platform and a remote-controlled brush cutter appeared.
Visitors enjoyed trying out and taking commemorative photos with vehicles that they usually don't get to see up close.
JA Group Ibaraki Booth (JA Namegata Shiosai)
Club partner JA Group Ibaraki set up a booth and distributed a two-item set of frozen baked sweet potatoes and bell peppers.
Human Rights Awareness Activities
A parent-child human rights class was held at the Kashima Sports Center. Children who attended received clear files for human rights awareness signed by the players.
Additionally, collaborative human rights awareness clear files from the "Ibaraki Prefectural Human Rights Awareness Activities Network Council x Kashima Antlers" were distributed near the NIPPON STEEL gate on the main stand concourse.
The human rights image characters, Jin KEN Mamoru-kun and Jin KEN Ayumi-chan, also participated.
Movement to Brighten Society
As part of a nationwide initiative to build safe and secure communities free of crime and delinquency, awareness activities for the "Movement to Brighten Society" were conducted. Leaflets and bandages were distributed.
Ibaraki Prefecture Dementia Awareness Activities
To raise awareness across all age groups that people with dementia live among us and need support from the general community, a quiz and consultation booth for early-onset dementia were set up. Participants received novelty goods. A campaign was also held where local products were given as prizes to those who answered a questionnaire.
J.League Rookie Training
Rookie training was conducted for new players to learn about the J.League system through actual match operations, and Shuto Machioka helped with poster distribution at the entrance gate and operating special booths on the concourse.
