The JFA Uniqlo Soccer Kids is a series of fun football festival events where any children of age 6 and under can enjoy football. Monday 15 September had another festival at Tokyo Dome with 144 teams, totalling 2,200 kids, showing up.

Former Japan internationals, Tanaka Makoto and Miyamoto Tomomi made guest appearances and played together with children.

Thanks to kind cooperation from different sports and entertainment organisations franchised in Tokyo, there were also a variety of club mascots; “TOKYO Dorompa” from FC Tokyo, “Verdy-Kun” from Tokyo Verdy, “Zelvy” from FC Machida Zelvia, “Giabbit” from Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, and “Don Chuck & Lala” from Tokyo Dome City Attractions. They were all over the event site posing for photos and cheering for kids playing on the pitch.

The event included new fun features for all the participating families such as an event-original back board which was perfect for the photo background and the big screen displaying participant’s comments.
The Uniqlo Soccer Kids will keep visiting the total of 14 locations nationwide, major dome stadiums and football fields.

Special Sponsor Comment

Mr. Odake Shin, Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
Uniqlo sponsors and supports world-class athletes. Honda Keisuke made an appearance on our TV commercial, and our other notable athletes are Nishikori and Kunieda in tennis and wheelchair tennis and Adam Scott of golf. There is something common in those athletes. It is that they, just like you, have clear future vision since their childhood and work for it every day. I think you can be very successful in life if you have a big dream and work hard every day. In conclusion, we would like to express our great appreciation to the Japan Football Association, the Tokyo Football Association, all the volunteers, and participating families for making this fantastic event possible.

Organiser Comment

MURAI Mitsuru, Vice President of Japan Football Association and Chairman of J. League
Was playing football very fun today? Did you play well?
I will be very happy if you keep playing football, fall in love with it, and eventually be a national team player, J. Leaguer or Nadeshiko Leaguer. You can’t play football all by yourself. I want you all to make a lot of friends through football, build teamwork and fair-play spirit and keep working hard. Thank you so much.

Comments from Special Guests

TANAKA Makoto, Former Japan international
Playing with all the kids and watching them chasing for the ball with everything they have, that made us smile. I believe practice is the most important thing in football. Listening to coaches and teachers and watching and learning from good players, that makes you better. I hope there will be a future J. Leaguer, SAMURAI BLUE or Nadeshiko Japan player out of this group. I want them to keep playing and working hard so that their parents will be happy, too.

MIYAMOTO Tomomi, Former Nadeshiko Japan player
It was such a joy to play football with everybody here today and it was so inspiring to watch all the kids doing their best. I want all to keep having fun playing football. I think they are tired after the long day, so I want them to eat a lot, sleep a lot and grow big and healthy. And I want them to keep practicing hard.

Comment from Participating Coach

ISHIGAMI Tomoharu, Tsurumaki Football Club
Past few years our club participated in this event, but this is my first time to be here leading the kids. It was amazing. Kids showed us great hustle and something more that they don’t normally show. There was one particular kid, who is not usually very active but showed a different side today, looking very active and having lots of fun. They look a lot happier when they score goals here than they are after regular goals. They look so happy.