Not the “May Sickness” new employees often face, but “Post-B.LEAGUE Afterglow Syndrome”!? Sunrockers Shibuya Enlivens Basketball and Shibuya | Event Report

Hello! I am Mian Fujimura from the Sports Team, 3rd Bureau of the Public Relations Business Division. I joined the company as a new graduate in April 2022.

Just as I thought my new life started in April, a month has already passed and May is almost over…There is a certain “sickness” people tend to fall into during this time of year, isn’t there?

Yes, “May Sickness.”

Fortunately, I am still spending every day happily, but instead, I have contracted a serious illness.

It is “Post-B.LEAGUE Afterglow Syndrome,” caused by the professional basketball game I went to see with other new graduates last month being so much fun that I can’t get over it.

We were given the opportunity to watch Sunrockers Shibuya play against Alvark Tokyo, so a group of new graduate volunteers went to watch the game on the weekend after our training period ended.This game was so exciting that all the new graduates were incredibly hyped.This time, I would like to uncover the reasons why we can’t get over the afterglow…!

Reason 1
Commonalities between B.LEAGUE’s “Sunrockers Shibuya” and SUNNY SIDE UP

Sunrockers Shibuya calls Shibuya City its hometown and uses yellow as its team color.

Can you think of a company close to you that shares these traits?

That’s right. It’s SUNNY SIDE UP!

For us, with our office in Shibuya City and yellow as our corporate color, it’s only natural that we’d be fired up to cheer for a team we feel such a strong connection with.

Reason 2
Initiatives that value the connection with the hometown, Shibuya

Since Sunrockers Shibuya’s team color, yellow, is also SUNNY SIDE UP’s corporate color, it was easy for us—who are instructed to always coordinate our clothes and accessories in yellow (just kidding)—to adopt a yellow-themed cheering style. In fact, many members came wearing yellow fashion items.

However, that day happened to be “3rd Uniform Day,” which meant it was the day to wear purple uniforms—the color of the Japanese iris (hanashobu), the official flower of Shibuya City…!

We didn’t do our homework……… (crying)

©︎ SUNROCKERS SHIBUYA

These purple uniforms were also very cool. Above all, I thought it was wonderful how they value their connection to their hometown by adopting the purple of the Japanese iris, the city flower.

At SUNNY SIDE UP, we have also undertaken numerous initiatives focused on collaborating with our hometown, Shibuya, so we felt a strong sense of empathy.

Reason 3
The games are simply exciting

And most importantly, the game was just so exciting!!!

The new graduates were so hyped (lol).

The opponent, Alvark Tokyo, is one of the strongest teams in Japan, making this a “Shibuya Derby” between two teams based in the same city. Moreover, as it was a crucial game late in the season, a heated battle unfolded right from the start!

According to a member who knows a lot about basketball…

In contrast to Alvark, who use many systematic formations, the Sunrockers play up-tempo basketball centered on fast breaks from a solid defense.Their styles clashed intensely, making it a fantastic game to watch.

…or so they said!

The game was a back-and-forth battle as expected, even going into overtime, but thanks to an explosive performance by our captain and ace, Leo Vendrame, the Sunrockers secured a brilliant victory!

The new graduates who weren’t familiar with basketball seemed to find their own way to enjoy it by picking “favorite players.” They were surprisingly excited by things other than the game’s progress, such as the players’ gestures and expressions during play or seeing them joking around with teammates on the bench (lol).

Sports team promotions that highlight popular players are used in various sports, starting with the basketball world like the NBA, so I felt a premonition of even greater popularity for Sunrockers Shibuya!

Reason 4
The in-venue events are also fun

Not just the game, but various events were held inside the venue!

During an interaction event between players and fans in the stands, one lucky member of our group even managed to get an original T-shirt…!

There were also things like this at the game venue.

©︎ SUNROCKERS SHIBUYA

As a global trend, SDGs are something we must keep in mind.Of course, Sunrockers Shibuya was also engaged in initiatives related to SDGs.

They are reportedly upcycling special uniforms that couldn’t be worn during the 2019-2020 season due to the league’s suspension during the pandemic into merchandise, utilizing traditional techniques from Amami Oshima!We were even able to see the actual weaving process!

There was also a campaign where you could get an original water bottle by sharing on Instagram!I have this bottle carefully displayed in my room!

Events were held to ensure visitors enjoyed themselves beyond the game and to create PR value by combining basketball with elements from different fields.

Summary

Do you now understand the reasons behind “Post-B.LEAGUE Afterglow Syndrome,” caused by the professional basketball game I went to see with other new graduates last month?

Since many of this year’s new graduates have basketball experience or are fans, those who already liked basketball were naturally excited, but it was also a game where members who hadn’t paid much attention to basketball before were captivated by the charm of Sunrockers Shibuya and the B.LEAGUE.

I believe the prescription for this illness is to go watch another game! Therefore, all of us members want to continue supporting Sunrockers Shibuya enthusiastically!