NEWS
“Urawa Red Diamonds Appreciation Party APPRECIATION PARTY 2024” held
On the night of the 15th, the `` Urawa Red Diamonds Appreciation Party APPRECIATION PARTY 2024'' was held at a hotel in Tokyo.
The event, which was held for the first time in four years due to the coronavirus pandemic, was attended by 328 people from partner companies that support Urawa Reds and hometown related organizations. Club staff, including the first team manager, coaching staff, and players, expressed their gratitude, deepened their friendship, and expressed their determination for this season.
Introduced by TBS announcer Toshiyuki Doi, 28 players (Takahiro Akimoto, who is in transfer negotiations with three new foreign players, was absent), nine coaching staff members, and four interpreters each took to the stage. Finally, the Per-Mathias Hoegmo advanced to the center. The host, Mr. Doi, then pointed to the club emblem projected at the front of the venue and said, ``Last season's ACL victory gave us four stars.This season, we won the J League championship and we have a fifth star!'' The meeting has begun.
Representative Makoto Taguchi first gave a speech, and began by expressing his condolences to the victims and areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day. He then expressed his gratitude, saying, ``It is thanks to the support of our partner companies, hometown residents, and everyone who loves the Reds that we are able to hold this thank you meeting.'' “Last season, we played a record 60 official games, from the J League opening game on February 28th to the FIFA Club World Cup 3rd place deciding match on December 22nd. I'm proud of the team and club staff who fought responsibly," he said. Regarding last season's battles, he said, ``The fact that we achieved better results than the 2022 season, including a third ACL championship, 4th place in the J1 League, 2nd place in the (YBC) Levain Cup, and 4th place in the FIFA Club World Cup, is a great honor to everyone who fought alongside us. Thank you very much.'' On the other hand, regarding the violation of match management regulations by some supporters in the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup, he said, ``This is something that the club must never forget. We will work with related organizations to ensure that it does not happen again.'' I will continue to work responsibly on preventative measures while maintaining a sense of urgency."
Finally, regarding this season, he said, ``With new coach Hegumo, we aim to become an aggressive team that focuses more forward, and we will first improve our perfection at the Okinawa camp.We have high expectations for the new players.Last season, they played 60 games. The competition within the team will become even more intense as the players have become stronger and stronger, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they evolve as a team." We will do our best as a club to accomplish this and hold a victory parade and celebration in our hometown of Urawa,'' he concluded his greeting.
Next, Per-Mathias Hoegmo gave a greeting, saying, ``It's an honor to be a member of Urawa Reds, which has a great history.'' ``We've already had two practices, and I could feel the players' motivation and ability,'' he said of the new team, ``To become an international-level club, we need a strong cooperative relationship with our partners. It's great.'' "If fans, supporters, partners, and clubs work together, we can create a strong team," he said, asking for further cooperation from the participants.
He also revealed that he had contacted Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Storey, who was visiting Japan at the time he signed his contract with the Reds, adding: ``I asked him what was important for future cooperation between Norway and Japan. In addition to answering ``the marine industry,'' he also said, ``I want to export Norwegian soccer culture to Japan,'' and said that he would like to extend his best wishes to all of our partner companies.''
He concluded by saying, ``If we all work together, we can make this a really good season. Thank you for your support.''
Seiji Izumisawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., addressed the audience on behalf of the guests. After congratulating the team for playing 60 games, the most in the club's history, and achieving better results than the previous year, he said, "Of the 60 games played, I will never forget the red stadium and the support of the supporters in the second round of the ACL finals. He also said, "We will not be able to participate in the Emperor's Cup this season, but we will change our mindset and focus on the league and the Lewan Cup, and under the new coach, we will become the ONE TEAM and fight for the J-League championship for the first time since 2006. Urawa Reds I hope that the Reds will always aim for the top in Asia and continue to compete with the rest of the world, and that they will play with positivity and passion, and above all, that they will be eager to pursue victory," he said. He also expressed his strong support for Reds, saying, "We, the partners, promise to support Reds to the best of our ability.
Taizo Tanaka, chairman of the Urawa Urawa Reds Supporters' Association, said, ``At the second game of the ACL finals on May 6th last year, I was moved as it seemed like I was back at Saitama Stadium before the coronavirus pandemic.The end of this season was filled with excitement.'' I want this season to be one in which the city of Urawa is filled with joy, and I want there to be a victory parade,'' he said, and everyone toasted. After a pleasant chat, managers, coaches, and players were divided into separate tables and had friendly conversations with the participants.
In the "SPECIAL lottery" held during the chat, Shusaku Nishikawa, Takahiro Sekine, Yoshio Koizumi, Shoya Nakajima, Alexander Scholz, Marius Hoibraten, Hiroki Sakai, Atsuki Atsuki Ito, Shinzo Koroki, and Ken Iwao took the stage. Prizes were presented to the winners by the players.
Nine new players also took to the stage and, after receiving mini-interviews, each spoke one word about their determination. Among them, Tomoya UGAJIN said, ``Let's hold a parade at the end of this season by achieving results that will make our partners confident and say, ``We are a partner of Urawa Reds.''
Finally, the team stood on stage again, and on behalf of the players, Hiroki Sakai said, ``Thank you for your continued support.I believe that everyone's support is the expectation we have for the team.And our team will live up to those expectations.'' We have a duty. We will definitely do our best to make this season a success and celebrate again at the end of the year.''He expressed his gratitude and determination, and the approximately one-and-a-half-hour meeting ended with loud applause.
The team will train at Ohara Training Ground on the 16th, and will start a training camp in Kin Town, Okinawa Prefecture on the 17th.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
The event, which was held for the first time in four years due to the coronavirus pandemic, was attended by 328 people from partner companies that support Urawa Reds and hometown related organizations. Club staff, including the first team manager, coaching staff, and players, expressed their gratitude, deepened their friendship, and expressed their determination for this season.
Introduced by TBS announcer Toshiyuki Doi, 28 players (Takahiro Akimoto, who is in transfer negotiations with three new foreign players, was absent), nine coaching staff members, and four interpreters each took to the stage. Finally, the Per-Mathias Hoegmo advanced to the center. The host, Mr. Doi, then pointed to the club emblem projected at the front of the venue and said, ``Last season's ACL victory gave us four stars.This season, we won the J League championship and we have a fifth star!'' The meeting has begun.
Representative Makoto Taguchi first gave a speech, and began by expressing his condolences to the victims and areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day. He then expressed his gratitude, saying, ``It is thanks to the support of our partner companies, hometown residents, and everyone who loves the Reds that we are able to hold this thank you meeting.'' “Last season, we played a record 60 official games, from the J League opening game on February 28th to the FIFA Club World Cup 3rd place deciding match on December 22nd. I'm proud of the team and club staff who fought responsibly," he said. Regarding last season's battles, he said, ``The fact that we achieved better results than the 2022 season, including a third ACL championship, 4th place in the J1 League, 2nd place in the (YBC) Levain Cup, and 4th place in the FIFA Club World Cup, is a great honor to everyone who fought alongside us. Thank you very much.'' On the other hand, regarding the violation of match management regulations by some supporters in the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup, he said, ``This is something that the club must never forget. We will work with related organizations to ensure that it does not happen again.'' I will continue to work responsibly on preventative measures while maintaining a sense of urgency."
Finally, regarding this season, he said, ``With new coach Hegumo, we aim to become an aggressive team that focuses more forward, and we will first improve our perfection at the Okinawa camp.We have high expectations for the new players.Last season, they played 60 games. The competition within the team will become even more intense as the players have become stronger and stronger, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they evolve as a team." We will do our best as a club to accomplish this and hold a victory parade and celebration in our hometown of Urawa,'' he concluded his greeting.
Next, Per-Mathias Hoegmo gave a greeting, saying, ``It's an honor to be a member of Urawa Reds, which has a great history.'' ``We've already had two practices, and I could feel the players' motivation and ability,'' he said of the new team, ``To become an international-level club, we need a strong cooperative relationship with our partners. It's great.'' "If fans, supporters, partners, and clubs work together, we can create a strong team," he said, asking for further cooperation from the participants.
He also revealed that he had contacted Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Storey, who was visiting Japan at the time he signed his contract with the Reds, adding: ``I asked him what was important for future cooperation between Norway and Japan. In addition to answering ``the marine industry,'' he also said, ``I want to export Norwegian soccer culture to Japan,'' and said that he would like to extend his best wishes to all of our partner companies.''
He concluded by saying, ``If we all work together, we can make this a really good season. Thank you for your support.''
Seiji Izumisawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., addressed the audience on behalf of the guests. After congratulating the team for playing 60 games, the most in the club's history, and achieving better results than the previous year, he said, "Of the 60 games played, I will never forget the red stadium and the support of the supporters in the second round of the ACL finals. He also said, "We will not be able to participate in the Emperor's Cup this season, but we will change our mindset and focus on the league and the Lewan Cup, and under the new coach, we will become the ONE TEAM and fight for the J-League championship for the first time since 2006. Urawa Reds I hope that the Reds will always aim for the top in Asia and continue to compete with the rest of the world, and that they will play with positivity and passion, and above all, that they will be eager to pursue victory," he said. He also expressed his strong support for Reds, saying, "We, the partners, promise to support Reds to the best of our ability.
Taizo Tanaka, chairman of the Urawa Urawa Reds Supporters' Association, said, ``At the second game of the ACL finals on May 6th last year, I was moved as it seemed like I was back at Saitama Stadium before the coronavirus pandemic.The end of this season was filled with excitement.'' I want this season to be one in which the city of Urawa is filled with joy, and I want there to be a victory parade,'' he said, and everyone toasted. After a pleasant chat, managers, coaches, and players were divided into separate tables and had friendly conversations with the participants.
In the "SPECIAL lottery" held during the chat, Shusaku Nishikawa, Takahiro Sekine, Yoshio Koizumi, Shoya Nakajima, Alexander Scholz, Marius Hoibraten, Hiroki Sakai, Atsuki Atsuki Ito, Shinzo Koroki, and Ken Iwao took the stage. Prizes were presented to the winners by the players.
Nine new players also took to the stage and, after receiving mini-interviews, each spoke one word about their determination. Among them, Tomoya UGAJIN said, ``Let's hold a parade at the end of this season by achieving results that will make our partners confident and say, ``We are a partner of Urawa Reds.''
Finally, the team stood on stage again, and on behalf of the players, Hiroki Sakai said, ``Thank you for your continued support.I believe that everyone's support is the expectation we have for the team.And our team will live up to those expectations.'' We have a duty. We will definitely do our best to make this season a success and celebrate again at the end of the year.''He expressed his gratitude and determination, and the approximately one-and-a-half-hour meeting ended with loud applause.
The team will train at Ohara Training Ground on the 16th, and will start a training camp in Kin Town, Okinawa Prefecture on the 17th.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
