The SAJ (All Japan Ski Association), a public interest incorporated foundation, was founded in 1925 (Taisho 14), 14 years after skiing was introduced to Japan, and this year marks its 100th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, a commemorative ceremony was held in Tokyo on October 31st, with many stakeholders, athletes, and members of the press in attendance
Passion passed down for 100 years
In his opening remarks, Chairman Masahiko Harada expressed his gratitude and respect, saying,
"The federation was founded out of a passion to convey to many people the charm of skiing in the midst of magnificent nature, and the aspirations of our predecessors are still carried on today. We have been able to continue through turbulent times and overcome numerous difficulties thanks to the efforts of our many predecessors, as well as the strength and support of many people, including member organizations, sponsors, and ski resorts."
At the ceremony, many congratulatory speeches were delivered, including from Chairman Harada, Seiko Hashimoto, President of the JOC (Japanese Olympic Committee), the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Subaru, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its official top sponsorship contract next year, and overseas ski federations
At the subsequent awards ceremony for those who contributed, Chiharu Igaya, the only Japanese to win a medal in alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics, took to the stage
to give a message of encouragement to the participating athletes, saying, "I hope you will use the skills you have cultivated every day to make this a tournament you will have no regrets about."
The name has been changed to include snowboarding, and the logo has also been redesigned
President Harada also announced the federation's new name, slogan, and logo design
Starting in August 2026, the Ski Association of Japan (SAJ) will change its name to the All Japan Ski and Snowboard Federation.
The aim is to further enhance the popularity and recognition it has built up over the years, while also eliminating the barriers between the two sports and promoting the strengthening and development of each other.
The new logo design features a color scheme based on the Japanese flag, snow-capped mountains, and clear winter skies. The font, which symbolizes speed, delicacy, robust technology, and high quality, also expresses various aspirations for the next 100 years.
The new policy is "M.V.V."
Furthermore, SAJ has set out a new policy called "M.V.V (Mission/Vision/Value)," which emphasizes not only the development of players who can win, but also the development of players who are loved by everyone and an attitude of respect for nature and culture
▶Mission:
"Master snow. Spread snow." We aim to cultivate athletes who are loved around the world and spread and pass on the culture of snow sports while harmonizing with the snowy mountains that serve as the stage for sports.
▶Vision
[Strengthening] Continue to develop strong athletes who are loved around the world
[Popularization] Make skiing and snowboarding a national winter sport
[Co-creation] Create an environment where skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed sustainably
▶Value ＜Excitement＞
Does it make your heart leap? Does it make your heart beat faster?
＜Change＞ Can it bring about positive change?
＜Global Standards＞ Do we have a global perspective?
＜Mutual Understanding＞ Do we respect others?
＜Coexistence＞ Will it bring smiles to everyone's faces?
The slogan "changes shape" like snow
The new slogan to achieve these goals is "Let's snow! LET'S SNOW." It aims to spread smiles through snow sports. It
can be used to express various feelings, such as "Let's snow and make the Olympics a success!" or "Let's enjoy the snow this season!"
Strengthening policy for the Olympics
With the Winter Olympics in Italy coming up next year, Director of the Sports Headquarters, Takanori Kono, has announced a strengthening policy.
By strengthening the team's strength based on SAJ's new policy, the goal is to win a total of nine medals, including four gold medals, surpassing the previous record of three gold medals won at the Nagano Olympics, and to have more than 20 medal winners. He also stated that support for this purpose will be strengthened.
"SNOW JAPAN" new official wear
Next, the official "SNOW JAPAN" wear was unveiled. Although the suppliers, designs, and functions differ for each event, all wear has been developed through in-depth dialogue with athletes, and brings together the cutting-edge technology of each company
On this day, athletes Horishima Yukimasa and Watanabe Akito, who are considered strong contenders for medals, and Chairman Harada wore the uniforms at the announcement
Two representative players express their determination
Finally, Nordic combined athlete Akito Watanabe, who has announced his retirement at the end of this season, and freestyle moguls athlete Yukimasa Horishima made statements of their determination for the tournament
Watanabe:
"Last season I was in poor health and started late, but I finished feeling like I still have the strength to compete. Since I decided to retire, I've cherished each day and trained with great enthusiasm and concentration, so I'm looking forward to this season. My first Olympic Games, my first World Cup victory, and this final Olympic Games are all held in the same country, Italy. It feels like a strange coincidence. I don't want the cherry blossoms to simply fall after they've passed their prime, but rather I want everyone to see them in full bloom out of season, falling all at once like a flurry of cherry blossom petals. It would be fantastic if I could also win a medal."
Horishima:
"I was worried about the effects of my injury, but I was able to make good preparations during the off-season and I'm about 90% recovered. Just like the last tournament, I think I'll be facing mental challenges such as anxiety and tension, but I want to stay focused and organized so I'm ready for February."
Finally, Chairman Harada commented,
"My personal goal is to lower my blood pressure... but I hope all the athletes will do their best to achieve their goals and have no regrets." He
immediately put the new slogan "Spreading Smiles" into practice, drawing laughter from the audience.
Information
Japan Ski Association, a public interest incorporated foundation
Official website: https://www.ski-japan.or.jp/Official
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