Press Release

Osaka, Japan - June 24, 2016 - Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (Takashi Shimizu, president) announced that it has signed a platinum partnership agreement with Gamba Osaka (Gamba Osaka Co., Ltd.; Suita, Osaka; Takashi Yamauchi, president), a Japan Professional Football League club in the J1 League.
Gamba Osaka was founded in 1980, and in 1993 became one of the original 10 teams of the then newly formed J. League. Gamba Osaka has a stellar history and tradition. In 2005, the club won its first J. League championship. In 2008, it claimed the AFC Champions League crown. And in 2014, Gamba won the Division 1 title, while also winning the J. League Cup and the Emperor's Cup to complete the domestic treble. The team has also produced numerous top athletes who have gone on to represent Japan’s national team. Gamba Osaka enjoys a huge fan base in Osaka as well as throughout Japan's Kansai region, and is constantly in the mix for victory not only in competitions within Japan, but on the highest stages in Asia and throughout the world as well.

Since last year, Toyo Tires has been rolling out branding initiatives based on the company’s slogan of ‘Surprising the world.’ This slogan encapsulates the company's relentless pursuit of the never-ending challenge to deliver "surprises" in the form of products that move people through unique inventiveness and innovative technology.

This world view of the Toyo Tires brand resonates with Gamba Osaka’s attitude—embodied in the challenging spirit of the team name (which means to fight)—of always striving for the top, and this resonance led the company to conclude a full-fledged sponsorship agreement with the team.

Through this sponsorship, the company will promote engagement of the Toyo Tires brand in Japan by featuring the company logo on the team's official uniform shorts, displaying advertising signage at Suita City Football Stadium, the team's new home field that boasts a seating capacity of 40,000, and through various promotional activities utilizing the team's assets.

[Details of the sponsorship agreement]
* Agreement term: July 1, 2016 to January 31, 2018
* Primary rights acquired through the agreement
　・Display of the Toyo Tires brand logo on the team's official uniform shorts
　・Display of the Toyo Tires brand logo on the official uniform shorts of the Gamba Osaka youth team (J3)　*From June 26, 2016
　・Display of advertising signage at Suita City Football Stadium
　・Production and use of various promotional materials utilizing the team's assets

[Image provided courtesy of Gamba Osaka]
Gamba Osaka's home stadium (Suita City Football Stadium)