Sponsorship

Unlocking Smiles Worldwide Through Sport

At Sanrio, our corporate philosophy is simple: "Minna Nakayoku" (The meaning of this phrase is “Getting Along Together” in English. Minna means “all of us”, and nakayoku means “friendship”)
To bring this to life, we've crafted a vision of "One World, Connecting Smiles," which encompasses our mission to spread happiness far and wide, making the world a brighter place.

We've charmed hearts with our characters, but it doesn't stop there. We're diving into the world of sports and dynamic endeavors involving individual athletes, sporting teams and events, driven by the spirit of "friendliness," "globalization," "playfulness," and "future possibilities."

Stay tuned, as the dynamic activities we support promise to unveil exciting new horizons in global entertainment!

Sanrio Support Athletes

Affiliated athletes

(c)yuichi sugita
SkateboardingMomiji Nishiya

Inspired by her older brother, she hopped on her first skateboard at the tender age of 6 and won a gold medal at the Olympics when she was only 13 years old. Since then, she has continued to win the world's most prestigious competitions such as X-GAMES. Her goal is to share her video parts not only in contests but also on the street with the world.

SkateboardingYumeka Oda

At 7, she stepped on a skateboard for the first time. Eight years later, she's taken the world by storm. Witness her historic feat at 'SLS,' where she shattered records with the highest female score ever. When it's crunch time, she's got the competitive edge.

Sponsored athletes

Table TennisMiu Hirano (Kinoshita Group)

A silver medalist in the women’s team table tennis events at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, Miu Hirano began playing table tennis at the age of 3 years and 5 months and achieved her first-ever victory for a Japanese player in the 2016 World Tour Singles. Known as 'Hurricane Hirano,' her lightning-fast style of play has captured the world's attention!

Table TennisMiwa Harimoto (Kinoshita Group)

A silver medalist in the women’s team table tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Miwa Harimoto first stole the spotlight in 2021 by becoming the first-ever player to win four titles—singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team—in the U15 category at the World Youth Championships. After the Paris Olympics, she made a significant contribution to winning the team gold medal at the Asian Championships, marking the first such victory in 50 years.

Alpine SkiingMomoka Muraoka

Muraoka is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in para-alpine skiing (sitting category) at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. She began using a wheelchair at age four due to illness. She discovered para-alpine skiing (sitting category) in third grade and entered competitive skiing by her second year of middle school. She is a strong contender expected to compete for gold at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.

Supporting Sporting Teams

Mölkky

Mölkky: A universal sport from Finland! This sport, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages, nationalities, and abilities, is skyrocketing in worldwide popularity. Sanrio, as the top sponsor of the Japan Mölkky Association, is committed to nurturing the growth of this exciting game.

Supporting Sporting Events

Sanrio Smile Golf Tournament

Sanrio is a special sponsor of several matches promoted as the "Sanrio Smile Golf Tournament" in the Next Heroine Golf Tour hosted by Mynavi. Through live character appearances and other activities, Sanrio supports young golfers aspiring to become professionals.

Sanrio's Next-Generation Support Project

Sanrio Cheers for Smiles

Sanrio has launched "Sanrio Cheers for Smiles" (SCS), a project to support the next generation of talent who are striving to shine in various fields.

Nakayoku Creators

In an age when anyone can be a creator, this project supports creators who continue to pursue the future of entertainment with new creativity.