Promoting Health through Sports
Otsuka Pharmaceutical is committed to promoting and improving the health of individuals who “play,” “watch,” and “support” sports. We offer operational support for sporting events and work in partnership with sports clubs such as TOKUSHIMA VORTIS, along with related organizations and local governments, to tackle the health challenges faced by local communities.
Improving citizen health through "The VORTIS Conditioning Program"
To promote healthy living in the community, Otsuka Pharmaceutical joined forces with Mima City in Tokushima Prefecture with pro soccer team- TOKUSHIMA VORTIS to launch The VORTIS Conditioning Program in 2019. It leverages the expertise of VORTIS promotion coaches to conduct group training sessions and encourage participants to train at home. The project is particularly exciting as it is the first SIB* in the healthcare field involving a pro soccer team and has proven successful, earning a public award at the 2020 J.League Sharen Award.
- *Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are a financial instrument in which private investors provide upfront funding for social programs, and are repaid based on the achievement of predetermined social outcomes.
In addition, the VORTIS Genkids Program, a health promotion project focusing on exercise and nutrition, has been newly launched for children in their early years, when their motor functions develop. In the area of exercise, extension coaches and others visit the preschools and provide guidance on the month's program. In the area of nutrition, the program makes use of the food education app Deliciously Illustrated SketchCook developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical. The aim is to get children actively involved in exercise and nutrition through play so that they can acquire the foundations for lifelong sports.
TOKUSHIMA VORTIS, the first J-League team in the Shikoku region, was founded in 1955 as the Otsuka Pharmaceutical soccer team. The team changed its name to TOKUSHIMA VORTIS in 2005 and joined J-league. The team's name, “VORTICE,” comes from the Italian word meaning “whirlpool.” Inspired by the powerful Naruto whirlpools, they strive to be a team that embodies strength, speed, and unity—creating an exciting experience for spectators.
B.LEAGUE Hope Active Child Program
In response to the declining physical activity and increase in injuries among children due to a lack of outdoor playtime and sports activities, B.LEAGUE men's professional basketball league, the Japan Sports Association (JSPO), and Otsuka Pharmaceutical have collaborated to launch the B.LEAGUE Hope Active Child Programme in FY2021.
The program is designed to encourage physical activity in children attending accredited kindergartens, nursery schools, and kindergartens in each B.LEAGUE team's hometown. The program includes an exercise regimen led by coaches, players, cheerleaders, and staff from B.LEAGUE clubs, as well as nutritional education and home play activities for parents, with the goal of helping children develop healthy exercise and lifestyle habits while promoting their physical and emotional well-being.
B.LEAGUE is a professional men's basketball league in Japan, established in September 2016 to promote a rich sports culture and the healthy development of individuals and the nation, as well as to foster international goodwill through improved basketball competitiveness and promotion. As a Supporting Company since December 2020, Otsuka Pharmaceutical has partnered with B.LEAGUE to enhance physical health care for players and officials, as well as community healthcare.
POCARI SWEAT Dream Project
The POCARI SWEAT Dream Project aims to promote sports, enhance health, and support communities abroad, particularly in Asia and the Arab region. The initiative focuses on junior soccer and basketball players. In 2022, we launched the “POCARI SWEAT × TOKUSHIMA VORTIS Football Dream Project” in collaboration with TOKUSHIMA VORTIS. In 2024, we initiated the "POCARI SWEAT Basketball Dream Project" in partnership with B.LEAGUE teams.
This project facilitates exchanges between junior players from overseas and their Japanese counterparts to enhance technical skills. It provides direct coaching from top-team coaches and offers information on conditioning, hydration, electrolyte replenishment, and sports nutrition. Additionally, it supports regional revitalization by creating opportunities for international exchange with local residents through cultural experiences throughout Japan.
Special sponsor of the Inter-High School Sports Festival and the Nippon Junior High School Tournament
Otsuka Pharmaceutical is dedicated to promoting healthy habits and nutritional education for students to foster their mental and physical well-being. To fulfill this commitment, Otsuka Pharmaceutical has been a special sponsor of the Nippon Junior High School tournament since 2000 and the Inter-High School Sports Festival since 2014. These sporting events provide a crucial platform for raising awareness about preventing heat illness during physical activity. Recently, with the need for adequate infection control measures, we have worked closely with athletic federations and the host prefecture's organizing committee to ensure the health and safety of all participants by implementing measures to prevent heat illness.
At the Inter-High School Sports Festival, we support student committee members from high schools and committee staff in obtaining the “Heat Illness Prevention Ambassador” certification. We promote measures to prevent heat illness not only for athletes who “play” sports and spectators who “watch,” but also for local residents who “support” the event.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical's Long-Standing Sponsorship of Tokyo Marathon
As an official partner of the Tokyo Marathon since its establishment in 2007, we have supported runners by providing hydration, electrolytes, and nutritional replenishment. The Tokyo Marathon ignited Japan's running boom and, combined with growing health consciousness, significantly expanded the base of domestic runners.
Running long distances places significant strain on the body, leading to issues such as dehydration, energy depletion, and muscle fatigue. At the Tokyo Marathon, maintaining proper hydration, electrolyte balance, and nutritional support remain essential for safe completion every year. Otsuka Pharmaceutical remains committed to providing evidence-based nutrition and conditioning products, and information to support runners, and will continue to do so in the future.
Supporting Lifelong Performance
We have produced a Total Conditioning Handbook for Well-Being that explains the conditioning required for improving performance in daily life. The handbook was created as part of a joint project between the Japan Sport Council and our parent company, Otsuka Holdings. The handbook focuses on both the high performance in competitive sports and the overall performance in daily life, encouraging people to engage in total conditioning.
