This article contains information regarding the organisations enjoying a strong branding presence across the Japan men’s and/or women’s national football teams’ physical and digital assets as sponsors and partners of the Japan Football Association.
Name of the football association: Japan Football Association (JFA)
Also read: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Sponsors
Official Top Partner
Kirin
A subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Group, Kirin Brewery Corporation is a Japanese integrated beverage company that was established in 1888.
In June 2022, Kirin and the JFA announced the signing of an eight-year partnership deal starting in 2023. The eight-year deal is reportedly worth around US$200 million and makes Kirin the official beer and beverage partner of the JFA and its national teams until 2030.
Official Supplier
Adidas
The German sportswear and sports equipment giant has been the official kit supplier to all JFA-affiliated national football teams since April 1999.
The current deal between the two parties is set to run till the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup.
Major Partners
Toyo Tire
In May 2021, Toyo Tire, a Japanese tyre manufacturer, signed a five-year partnership deal with the JFA. The deal is reportedly worth around US$10 million and sees Toyo Tire provide tyres for the JFA’s training and matchday vehicles, covering all JFA-affiliated national football teams — both men’s and women’s across their senior and youth setups.
MS & AD
MS & AD, a Japanese insurance firm founded in 2010, serves as the official insurer and supporter of the JFA in a deal covering both the Japan men’s and women’s national football teams.
The current deal between the two parties sees MS & AD serve as the JFA’s official insurer and supporter until 2026.
Mizuho
The Tokyo-based retail and business bank works with the JFA as the Japan men’s and women’s national football teams’ official financial advisor and service provider
Mizuho and the JFA have been partners since April 2013. The current agreement between the two parties is set to run until December 2026.
Au Networks
The Japan national football teams and Au Networks, a Japanese mobile phone provider, first collaborated in 2016 in an attempt to make the sport more accessible to supporters via mobile networks.
KDDI Corporation, the parent company of Au Networks, extended its sponsorship deal with the JFA in December 2022, with the new deal running from 2023 to 2026 and reportedly worth ¥10 billion. As per the deal, Au Networks continues as the official telecommunications partner of the JFA and its national teams.
Saison Card International
Saison Card International (SCI) is the global business arm of Credit Saison, a Japanese credit card company. SCI was established in 2014 to accelerate Credit Saison’s expansion into Southeast Asia and India, offering a wide range of financial services, including credit cards, personal loans and business loans.
The current deal between SCI and the JFA, signed in March 2023, runs until 2027 and is reportedly worth US$100 million, which makes it one of the most lucrative sponsorship deals in Japanese football history.
SCI has been a sponsor of the JFA since 2015. It continues to sponsor the JFA national teams — both men’s and women’s across their senior and youth setups. SCI also sponsors the JFA’s domestic competitions, including the J.League and the Nadeshiko League.
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
All Nippon Airways is the largest airline in Japan and one of the largest airlines in the world. The Tokyo-based airline operates a fleet of over 200 aircrafts and flies to over 100 destinations across Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.
ANA has been a sponsor of the JFA since 2012, serving as its official airliner. The latest agreement between the two parties, signed in January 2023, runs until 2026 and is reportedly worth an estimated ¥2.6 billion per year.
National Team Partners
APA Hotels
Founded on 1 April 1988, APA Group is a Japanese hospitality group that operates APA Hotels. With more than 300 properties in Japan, APA Hotels is a leading business hotel chain in the country.
In March 2023, the JFA and APA Hotels announced the signing of a three-year sponsorship deal set to run until 2026 and reportedly worth ¥10 billion. As per the terms of the deal, APA Hotel serves as the official hotel partner of the JFA and provides accommodation for its national teams, including referees and other officials.
Yomiuri Shimbun
The Yomiuri Shimbun is a Japanese newspaper — one of the five major newspapers in Japan. Founded in 1874, it was originally called the Yomiuri Hochi, before its name changed to the “Yomiuri Shimbun” in 1890. It is the largest newspaper in Japan in terms of circulation. Its morning edition has a circulation of over 7 million copies, while its evening edition has a circulation of over 3 million copies.
The Yomiuri Shimbun has been a sponsor of the JFA since 2015. In June 2022, the Yomiuri Shimbun and the JFA announced that they had agreed to extend their sponsorship deal until 2030. The seven-year deal is reportedly worth US$100 million, as per which the Yomiuri Shimbun continues to be the official media partner of the JFA as well as the official sponsor of its annual awards ceremony: the JFA Awards.
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