Since its founding, KIMOTO Co., Ltd.has been continuously engaged in community contribution activities that support children in the fields of culture and sports. The KIMOTO Cup was launched in 2006 with the hope that students will develop the ability to cultivate the ability to develop their independence to think and act on their own, and to care for others, and to open up the future toward their dreams. The KIMOTO Cup is a youth softball tournament held in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture, where Kimoto's main factory is located, with the participation of youth sports team baseball teams. From 2006 to 2019, 3,636 children (total number of registered athletes) participated in the competition, and the competition has been fierce every year.

Also, to commemorate the 10th KIMOTO Cup, children from Inabe City, named 'All Inabe', were invited to Cedartown, Georgia, where our North American factory is located, to play a Japan-US friendship match with an American youth baseball team. It became a tournament that realized the dream of playing baseball in the United States and facilitated international exchange beyond language, culture, and distance through baseball.

The 16th KIMOTO Cup was scheduled to be held in 2020, but due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), we have decided to cancel this year's KIMOTO Cup out of consideration for the health and safety of the children, participants, and everyone involved, and with the determination to do everything we can.

We apologize to everyone who was looking forward to the event, and sincerely hope for the end of the pandemic and for everyone's safety. We look forward to seeing you again at the KIMOTO Cup.