Policies and Our Approach
Suntory Group actively supports sports promotion activities to contribute to people's rich culture and lifestyle. We have our own rugby and volleyball sports teams that compete to become champions in their respective leagues in Japan as well as engage in community-based activities in cooperation with their home towns. We are also engaged in other activities such as holding women's golf tour and baseball event and offering support for parasports.
Our Initiatives
Suntory’s Rugby Team Tokyo Suntory SUNGOLIATH
Tokyo Suntory SUNGOLIATH was created in 1980, and has taken the Top League championship five times and won the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship eight times. The team is currently participating in JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE that started in 2022.
SUNGOLIATH has signed comprehensive partnership agreement for the development of local community with Minato Ward in September 2020; Fuchu City, Chofu City, and Mitaka City in April 2021; and Tokyo in November 2021, and strengthened ties with the community. Members of the Tokyo Suntory SUNGOLIATH instructs rugby experience for elementary school students at host town as well as share their life story in a workshop called Trying for Dreams and teach students about important things in life.
-
Rugby Team Tokyo Suntory SUNGOLIATH
-
Rugby Clinic
-
Lecture titled “Trying for Dreams”
Suntory’s Volleyball Team Suntory SUNBIRDS
Suntory SUNBIRDS, created in 1973, participates in the V. Premium League Division 1, the top company volleyball league in Japan. SUNBIRDS is prestigious team that won its 10th league championship in 2024. In 2023, they became the first Japanese team to win the Asian Club Championships, and in the World Club Championships, they took third place and a bronze medal, proving that they can compete globally.
The team has signed comprehensive partnership agreement for the development of local community with Minoo City in October 2021 and offers volleyball clinic instructed by the players and staff for wide range of generation with a focus on elementary and junior high school students at the home town.
SUNBIRDS also actively engages in social contribution activities such as instructing older generations exercise using balls, supporting activities for recovery after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and holding volleyball clinic for elementary and junior high school students at home games.
-
Volleyball Team Suntory SUNBIRDS
-
Volleyball Clinic
-
Comprehensive partnership agreement
with the home town
Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies Open Golf Tournament: Pathway to AIG Women’s British Open
Suntory Ladies Open Golf Tournament is an official ladies open golf tournament of the Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association of Japan hosted by Suntory. The event is held annually at the Rokko Kokusai Golf Club in Kobe City. This tournament is seen as a competition to test the true skill of the golfers because it is held for four days, while in Japan most golf tournaments usually last for three days. Ai Miyazato, a professional golfer affiliated with Suntory, acts as an advisor for the tournament and is involved with setting the course, PR for the tournament, and hospitality for visitors. As an international open tournament, it opens its doors and supports the growth of next generation of Japanese and international amateur golfers who are expected to become leading players in the future, and actively engages in other charitable events.
From the 30th tournament in 2021, the first- and second-place golfer gain entry to the AIG Women’s British Open.
-
-
Tournament winner Chisato Iwai (right)
and tournament ambassador Ai Miyazato
(2023 tournament award ceremony)
For more information, see Suntory Ladies Open Golf Tournament (in Japanese)
Suntory Dream Match
Suntory has been hosting baseball games that deliver dreams and excitement since 1995. These event-type games, featuring retired pro baseball legends, have brought joy to more than a million fans to date. The 27th match in 2023 was the first time in four years, since the onset of the pandemic, that the game was played before a full stadium. The Premium Malt’s team, led by Manager Koji Yamamoto, and the Dream Heroes team, led by Manager Yasushi Tao fought a heated battle. The Suntory Dream Match is also a charity event, and a portion of the proceeds are used to support charity activities such as baseball classes for kids throughout Japan.
Supporting Challenged Athletes
Suntory Group started the project in 2014 as part of our recovery support for the disaster-stricken Tohoku region.
In addition to providing incentives to athletes and donating athletic equipment, we have also held classes in wheelchair basketball and other challenged sports for children in Tohoku. To date, more than 5,000 people have participated. Since 2015, Suntory has been an official partner of the Japan Para-Sports Association and the Japan Wheelchair Basketball Federation, and has been involved not only in reconstruction assistance but also in support for athletes, including Suntory employee Mami Tani, a para-triathlete, in their athletic activities and competitions. In addition, Suntory is involved in promotional activities through the production of wheelchair basketball rules videos, VR videos of wheelchair basketball, and a series of web-based projects that introduce the passion of the athletes.
Last year, we launched a project with university students to promote the appeal of para-sports. We will continue our challenges with our athletes under our PASSION FOR CHALLENGE grounded in our “Yatte Minahare” spirit that we have had since our founding.
From 2023, through the Suntory Challenged Sports Athletes Incentive Program, we support the activities of young athletes and sports organizations throughout Japan who are recommended by the 57 areas para-sports associations.
-
“Suntory Challenged Sports Athlete Incentive Program” press release
-
Mami Tani working hard in training
-
Co-creation activities with university students, “Para-Sports Design College”
-
Wheelchair basketball experience event