Deepening Bonds with Great Passes!? SSU Basketball Club’s “Active Communication Techniques” to Dissolve Internal and External Barriers | Club Activity Report

Hello, everyone! I am Ohashi, the captain of the SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Basketball Club.

The sound of an orange ball hitting the court, the pleasant “squeak” of basketball shoes rubbing against the floor… A heated battle is unfolding in a rented elementary school gymnasium near our Sendagaya office.

In this report, we will cover the activities of the Basketball Club—one of the most “open” and “active” clubs within the SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP—which, true to a PR and communication group, is creating meaningful connections!

What are SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP’s “Club Activities”?

The “Club Activity Support” program is one of the unique employee benefits included in SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP’s “32 Benefits.” With the goal of promoting communication among members and enhancing group synergy, it supports the establishment and continuation of club activities that match members’ various hobbies and interests, regardless of whether they are outdoor or indoor activities.

However, as PR professionals, our mission extends to information dissemination. As demonstrated in this article, members of each club activity freely share their activities on SUNNY DAYS, our group’s owned media platform.

A Steady Stream of External Guests! On the Court, It’s a “Cross-Industry Networking Event Without Business Cards”

A major feature of the Basketball Club is that it is attended not only by group members but also by many guests from outside the company.

So far, we have welcomed guests from various fields, including media professionals, television producers, and partners from the entertainment and IT industries. While the primary goal is, of course, to purely enjoy the sport, as the captain, I have a desire to “create opportunities for more frank interaction through basketball!”

“We’re playing basketball soon; why don’t you come join us?”

I believe it would be fantastic if such a simple phrase could serve as a “good hook” for PR professionals to bridge the distance with media contacts and clients. Rather than sitting in a meeting room with a serious face, it is much more interesting to get to know each other’s personalities while passing the ball around.

A Harmonious Diversity: From Spectators to Hardcore Players

You might think, “The basketball club seems hard to join if you’re not an experienced player…” but that is actually not the case.

Within the club, we have a truly diverse range of members, from experienced players who were very active during their student days to beginners who started liking the sport through manga, and even health-conscious members who want to “resolve their lack of exercise!”

The time spent chasing a single ball, transcending the boundaries of departments and companies, provides an irreplaceable sense of refreshment.

Future Challenges for Our Club Activities!

Now, our next goal is to hold a “mini-tournament” bringing together basketball teams from a wide variety of companies!

Actually, we were working to realize this project in fiscal year 2025, but we unfortunately had to abandon it after hitting walls regarding schedule coordination and securing a venue…

However, we in the Basketball Club do not give up here. We hope to make a comeback next term! We are planning to create an opportunity where everyone from the participating companies can get excited, not just through the matches, but by preparing “luxurious prizes” that will thrill everyone, in true PR company fashion.

The SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Basketball Club will continue to create “fun commotions” on the court!

Not only group members but also our valued partner companies are more than welcome to come and play for refreshment or networking. Please feel free to join us.

I look forward to the day we can make the best shots together!