【サガン鳥栖】「プロスポーツの仕事」を学ぶ機会を！ブラックモンブランの竹下製菓とコラボしインターンシップ初実施

This summer, the first internship program was held in collaboration between J2 League soccer team Sagan Tosu (hometown: Tosu City, Saga Prefecture) and Takeshita Confectionery (headquarters: Ogi City, Saga Prefecture), famous for its Black Mont Blanc ice cream bar. The program involved participants learning about the work of professional sports and ultimately presenting their ideas directly to the management of both companies. We followed the program closely. Presenting directly to the representatives!? Students get a real-life experience behind the scenes of professional sports. RKB Announcer Yuki Hashimoto "We've come to Ekimae Real Estate Stadium, home of Sagan Tosu. Today, a J2 match is being held, but behind the scenes, a certain project is underway." This August, approximately 20 university and high school students, who had passed the screening process from across the country, including Kyushu, Kanto, and Hokkaido, gathered in a conference room at Ekimae Real Estate Stadium, home of Sagan Tosu. This internship program is aimed at young people who want to work in professional sports. It was implemented for the first time with the cooperation of Takeshita Confectionery, a local company famous for its Black Mont Blanc. We spoke directly with Hitoshi Narita of Sagan Dreams (operators of Sagan Tosu), who oversaw the program. Hashimoto: "In a nutshell, what kind of project is it?" Planner Hitoshi Narita "What can the club do for its sponsors? Traditionally, it's limited to advertising and promotion, but this program explores what else the club can do for its sponsors." What can the club do for its sponsors? What kind of program is this?! The project launched on August 19th. Sagan Dreams President Tomoyuki Koyanagi said, "This is the time of year when you're all thinking about your careers. I hope you'll cherish this time and consider sports business and your work at Sagan Tosu as options." This nine-day program will teach you about club management and other topics. On the final day, a big event awaited the participants, where they would directly present "proposals that utilize Sagan's strengths" to representatives from both Sagan Tosu and Takeshita Confectionery. One of the participants was Hayato Inoue (20 years old). Inoue, who grew up in Tosu City, has been a Sagan Tosu supporter since childhood and is currently studying at a university in the UK. He took part in this event during his summer vacation. He also creates and posts YouTube videos to convey the appeal of Sagan Tosu. Participant Hayato Inoue "I want to learn about what Sagan Tosu is doing from the inside (of the club), and since so many people with the same aspirations have gathered here, I want to build that network as well." Sagan Dreams' Hitoshi Narita "There are so many students who want to work at the club, so we started out with the idea of ​​providing a place for as many people as possible during their summer vacation. I'd be very happy if (on the final day) we come across some eye-opening proposals from the perspective of Gen Z." On August 22, the fourth day of the project, we went to the Takeshita Confectionery factory to learn about the sponsoring company. Our driver was Yohei Toyoda, who retired from soccer last year. He was a former Sagan Tosu ace and also played for the Japanese national team, and is a club legend who continued to play at the forefront for 21 long years. Participant Ryota Noguchi "To me, it feels like a superhero is driving...it's a strange feeling." Yohei Toyoda "I think the fact that (this project) is open and revealing everything is wonderful, and deserves respect. I think that will benefit Sagan Tosu and the sports world as a whole, and I'm happy to be involved in it even in a small way." Learn about the sponsoring company! The history and manufacturing process of "Black Mont Blanc" At the Takeshita Confectionery factory, we learned about the history of Black Mont Blanc and the manufacturing process. Incidentally, the "mountain" on the packaging of "Black Mont Blanc" was apparently photographed by current, fifth-generation president Mayu Takeshita herself, on-site. With this knowledge about the product firmly in mind, we headed inside the factory to see the freezing-chilled storage facility and the process of making Black Mont Blanc. Participant Hayato Inoue "I learned a lot from seeing the video I just saw up close." Inoue, who says that Sagan Tosu sparked his interest in sports business, returned home and summarized the day's events. His room is home to a display of numerous Sagan Tosu uniforms. Participant Hayato Inoue "I moved here in 2015, so I've been a fan for about 10 years. I went to my first game in Tosu, and I was like, 'Soccer is amazing!' And I got hooked, and I'm like this now (laughs)." Director "Just seeing your room..." Mother Kiyomi "It's amazing, isn't it? (wry smile)... I wonder if that's why he went to England, touring stadiums?? Did he actually go to university?... I have t...