[Sapporo Holdings] Former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters player Kenji Sugitani tries cheerleading for the first time! A lively dance performance! “Yellow” voices from junior high and high school students start project “Lemons for students who work hard in club activities” A surprise visit to the powerful cheer club! Video release
Sapporo Holdings Press release: November 12, 2024 Former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters player Kenji Sugitani tries cheerleading for the first time! A lively dance performance! “Yellow” voices from junior high and high school students start project “Lemons for students who work hard in club activities” A surprise visit to the powerful cheer club! Video release “I want to go back to my last summer in high school.” The motto of the interview where he talks about his youth, active years, and future is
“Challenge.” “Maintaining the status quo is the same as retreating. I want to dive into new things. ” Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Hiroshi Tokimatsu), a group company of Sapporo Holdings Co., Ltd., has a Lemon Delivery Department that offers “lemons to students who work hard in club activities.” From November 12, 2024 (Tuesday), Lemon Ambassador Kenji Sugitani, a former professional baseball player, will be releasing a video on a special website where he presents lemons to the cheerleading club of Kenshin Mejiro Junior and Senior High School. and will be published on official YouTube, X. In addition, we will start a campaign where we will give away “Chelate Lemon W (Double) Lemon” to 50 club activities nationwide by lottery. The Lemon Section is a fictional organization of Pokka Sapporo whose purpose is to convey the power of lemons to people around the world and help them feel energized. We started our activities in September 2024 with the aim of contributing to everyone’s well-being by not only trying Pokka Sapporo’s lemon products, but also learning about and trying the power of lemon. The “Lemon Present to Students Who Work Hard in Club Activities” project uses the power of lemons to encourage students who are working hard toward their dreams and goals. In the video released this time, Sugitani visits POLARIS, the Mejiro Kenshin Junior and Senior High School cheerleading club, and tries out cheerleading for the first time. The video shows the students handing out “Chelate Lemon Double Lemon” to the students who worked up a sweat with them. In this release, we will also publish a report summarizing the visit. Furthermore, as part of the surprise visit, we conducted an interview with Mr. Sugitani. We asked them about their impressions of their first attempt at cheerleading, sweet and sour memories from their youth associated with Chelate Lemon, memories of the draft meeting, and their future prospects.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-2892f37e944e632c193491b02804dac1-715×476.jpg https://youtu.be/d2eQg7UE-fQ
https://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/enjoy/sashiilemonsports/ About the video This project was realized with the hope that through classes to learn about lemons and lemons, people would experience their charm and become more familiar with lemons. As the first part, Mr. Sugitani will release a video summarizing his visit to Mejiro Kenshin Junior and Senior High School Cheerleading Club POLARW (IS). Mr. Sugitani, who has been active as a baseball player, and the cheerleaders who liven up the stadium are inseparable. Since this project resonated with us, we decided to collaborate with POLARIS. Although it was her first time trying cheerleading, Ms. Sugitani performed a sharp dance with 98 other members. After completing all the activities, we toasted with the “Chelate Lemon Double Lemon” that we had brought to us and got to know the students. After sweating and refreshing yourself with chelated lemon, we held a “lemon class.” Together with the students, they learned about the history and knowledge of lemons, experimented with them, and had fun learning about the unknown power of lemons. Please pay attention to Mr. Sugitani’s full-fledged dance and smile. https://youtu.be/d2eQg7UE-fQ
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-9ae6963fe35beee21d71dd2b926c1392-2248×846.png About the campaign We are currently recruiting club activities that would like to receive donations. Starting Tuesday, November 12th, we will be running a campaign where 50 club activities will be randomly selected to receive one case of 24 bottles of “Chelate Lemon W Lemon” (500ml).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-de88364373358ffce09f3c909ce2b5e5-650×231.jpg ・Campaign name: “Lemon ambassador Kenji Sugitani supports! Lemons given to students who work hard in club activities” campaign ・Application period: November 12, 2024 (Tuesday) 10:00 to December 11, 2024 (Wednesday) 23:59 ・How to apply: Please register as a member of Pokka Sapporo Members, enter the necessary information in the application form, and apply. *When applying, please be sure to obtain permission from your parents and the club’s school teacher. ・Prize: Chelate Lemon W Lemon (500ml) 1 case of 24 bottles (50 club activities by lottery) *Please see the special website for details on application requirements and notes. :
https://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/enjoy/sashiilemonsports/ Kenshi Sugitani makes a surprise visit to Mejiro Kenshin Junior and Senior High School Cheerleading Club in his school uniform! Cheerleader’s first challenge! Performed a lively dance with junior high and high school students and even suggested, “Let’s do it again!”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-7e67a27a471bd4b1580e8e34aa77659a-715×476.jpg Lemon Ambassador Sugitani made a surprise visit to Mejiro Kenshin Junior and Senior High School’s cheerleading club. When Mr. Sugitani entered the gymnasium, his eyes immediately widened and a look of surprise appeared on his face. There, you could see powerful club members practicing, throwing people high into the air and performing spectacular techniques one after another. Mr. Sugitani couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, everyone!” and “They must be practicing so hard.” Suddenly, the club members started performing for Mr. Sugitani. Mr. Sugitani was supposed to have visited as a surprise, but instead received a surprise. When a club member handed him a yellow pom-pom, he participated in the performance, albeit a little shy. Perhaps because his athlete spirit was stimulated, he gradually became more enthusiastic, and there were moments when he even suggested things like, “I’m disappointed that I couldn’t do it,” and “Let’s practice one more time!”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-0a73fb0b8131629f87bc32bb75af62c5-715×476.jpg Mr. Sugitani’s movements were jerky at first, but he gradually got in tune with the other club members and displayed a wonderful team performance. Due to his good motor skills, people around him say, “You learn quickly!” At the end, everyone performed a dance with a sense of unity, and when they struck a pose with smiles, the gymnasium was filled with applause. After the spectacular performance, Mr. Sugitani smiles and exchanges high fives and handshakes with everyone on the team. In addition, in response to the passionate words of “Thank you!” from all the club members, Mr. Sugitani responded with a big smile, “Thank you very much!” and “It was a lot of fun!” Present chelated lemons to students! Cheers and refresh! Student: “It’s so delicious!” “I feel so energetic!” Sugitani: “I got so excited at the end…”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-c7604fec57d301560af55ca24e5b7119-715×477.jpg In return for the welcome from POLARIS, Mr. Sugitani carefully expressed his gratitude by saying “Thank you” to each person and handed them a “Chelate Lemon Double Lemon”. Once everything has been covered, everyone on the team forms a circle and toasts. The students were refreshed as they gulped down their drinks, laughing and exchanging comments such as “It’s so delicious!” and “It gives me the best energy!” After finishing the drinks, we all gathered around Mr. Sugitani and shouted, “Chelate lemon!” and “Give us a lemon for the students who work hard in club activities!” while doing our original “lemon pose,” and we took a group photo with refreshing smiles. Photographed. Looking back on her dance performance, Sugitani laughed and said, “I got so excited at the end that I almost jumped.” When we asked the members of POLARIS what they thought, they said, “When I actually met Mr. Sugitani, I thought he was a really big-time person (lol)” “Mr. Sugitani seemed like an athlete, and he was really powerful. He was energetic. She was a cheerful person and had a lot of fun!” “The most important thing in cheerleading is a smile. Sugitani got a perfect score for her smile!” We will also be holding a “lemon class” where you can learn about the unknown power of “lemon”! Will the ambassador show his true potential? Sugitani: “When I eat with junior players, I mount them with lemons”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-d21d1d2a760586e827178f3e09bbd0cf-715×477.jpg After leaving the gymnasium, Sugitani and the cheer team members next visited an auditorium a little further away. There, a “Lemon Class” was held where participants could discover the unknown power of “lemons” through fun quizzes and experiments. In this time, we learned about the basic knowledge, health functions, and cooking functions of lemons.We focused on citric acid, which is contained in large amounts in lemons. Furthermore, “When you squeeze a lemon with the skin side down, the flavor will be better.” is a “trivia.” I pointed to it and said, “Hey, actually, I don’t know how to squeeze a lemon…” he said, eliciting laughter. [About Pokka Sapporo’s food education activities] Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage holds seminars and events where both children and adults can have fun learning about lemons. : https://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/lemon-museum/touch/ About making images Making-of images showing the situation during filming have also been released. The shooting took place in a peaceful atmosphere.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-4896b047f2bca5238603ae7e7946d990-2065×455.png About the interview with Sugitani As part of the surprise visit, we conducted an interview with Mr. Sugitani. We asked them about their impressions of their first attempt at cheerleading, sweet and sour memories from their youth associated with Chelate Lemon, the experience of being scolded by a teacher, memories of the draft meeting, and their future prospects.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-f2c9bf7243f8b338e77bdb8b531e1fad-715×477.jpg -This was your first time trying cheerleading, how was it? It was the first time I had seen such intense and powerful cheerleading, so at first I was shocked and thought, “Are you going to do this? You can’t do such acrobatic movements!” However, as we practiced together, I somehow felt like I could become a member of the team. It was really cool to see the sparkle in everyone’s eyes as they faced Cheer directly. ―I think baseball and cheerleading are inseparable, but what kind of image do you have when you think of cheerleaders? Also, have you ever had the experience of being cheered up by a cheerleader? When I think of cheerleading, I think of professional baseball cheerleaders who liven up the game. By getting excited, fans and players become one. It helped me a lot during my playing days, and I feel like I was able to perform beyond my ability in matches. ―Chelate Lemon is a perfect drink after club activities, but are there any memorable stories about the end of a club activity in high school or the end of a game in your professional days? When I was in high school, I remember that on the way home from school to the station, we would all talk nonsense like, “I wonder if we won’t have practice tomorrow.” A particularly memorable moment was during my last summer as a high school student. As the temperature rose, I felt depressed and thought, “Ah, the final tournament is finally about to begin.” My youth was full of life after club activities ended. When I became a professional, my mindset changed quite a bit. Fans pay money to come and watch games, so of course they have a responsibility in their play as well. I don’t think about whether I’ll miss practice tomorrow. On the way home, I started having a little review session about why I had made the mistake that time. – Do you have any sweet and sour memories from your youth, related to chelate lemon, which has a distinctive sour taste? do not have. Not at all (laughs). When I was in middle school, no one knew that I played baseball, and when I participated in Koshien in my first year of high school, people were surprised and said to me, “Huh? Kenshi plays baseball.” If I had to say, when I returned to my hometown from Koshien, I got a call from a girl I wasn’t that close to. I was really happy though. Really, that’s about it. -If you could go back to high school, what club would you join? Once again, it’s the baseball club. To be exact, I want to go back to my last summer in high school. I was able to participate in Koshien in my first and second years, but I was unable to participate in my third year. After losing, I wondered what I should do next, and even at home, I woke up in the morning and couldn’t believe it, thinking, “Wow, I really lost.” – Speaking of school days, I think everyone has had the experience of being scolded by a teacher. Mr. Sugitani, during your high school days, did you ever get scolded by your teacher? When I was in high school, there were many times when I was scolded by the baseball team coach. But while he was tough, when my baseball seemed to be going in the wrong direction, he was able to get me back on track. I was very grateful. -Please tell us about Sugitani’s refreshing method, which is based on chelate lemon, which refreshes with the sourness of lemon juice. Drinking chelated lemon has been my way of refreshing myself since my active days. After all, you want to quench your thirst after practice. -Cheerleading is a sport whose motto is energy, courage, and smiles. What is Mr. Sugitani’s motto in life? Our motto is “Challenge”. I believe that maintaining the status quo is the same as retreating, so I want to dive into new things. I hope that by watching me take on the challenge, I can give a little courage to those who are thinking of taking up a sport in the future. – Mr. Sugitani is loved by many fans for his humorous character. Please tell us the secret to your energy and smile. The secret is to talk to people. I entered the set excited, wondering what kind of people would be there today and what kind of filming it would be like. The opportunity to talk with various people is very important to me, and it gives me the energy to live every day. -There was a draft meeting at the end of October. Mr. Sugitani, please tell us about your memories of the draft. I was drafted in 6th place by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 2008 draft, but before that, my high school classmate was drafted in 4th place by another team. In the waiting room, I was sitting in PE, thinking, “I don’t have a nomination,” and was in agony. When I received my nomination, I hurried to the venue, but I still remember clearly that there was only one media company present at that time. -About two years have passed since the “Advance Conference” at the end of October 2022. How do you feel looking back on the past two years? Also, Mr. Sugitani, please tell us about your future prospects and goals as a place where you would like to “move forward”. From the time I decided to retire as an active player, I knew the direction I wanted to go in, and I think I’m making good progress in that direction. As for the outlook, I would like to continue to support people who are working hard so that they can move a little closer to their goals. The Lemon Ambassador initiative is also part of this effort. I share my experiences and knowledge through interactions with children and lemon seminars. I imagine a future in which we continue to hold events like this in various locations, and 10 years from now, we will be working with contestants who say, “I took a lemon class at that time.” -Please give a message to students who are working hard towards their dreams. Your possibilities are endless. When I was a student, I worked hard to throw a ball as fast as possible and hit it as far as possible. There is always something to be gained from such thoughts. Things don’t start unless you take a new step. Let’s do our best together! Profile
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-258c4976c56af45a11a98e293960f963-718×480.jpg Kenshi Sugitani Born February 4, 1991 in Nerima Ward, Tokyo. He started playing baseball in elementary school, and participated in Koshien three times in spring and summer at Teikyo High School in Tokyo. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 2008 draft and joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He was promoted to the first team in 2011, and in 2015 he made more starting appearances and was active with a batting average of .295. He is a switch hitter who can hit both left and right, and has played as a utility player who can play any position in the infield or outfield other than pitcher or catcher until his retirement in October 2022. He is loved for his bright and cheerful character and is active as a lemon ambassador for Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Co., Ltd., which manufactures and sells lemon products.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-33801abc47a162914b97ae27f72fd119-800×533.jpg Mejiro Kenshin Junior and Senior High School Cheerleading Club/POLARIS 2022 High School Sports Federation Tokyo Tournament: “3rd Tier Division” Winner, “2nd Tier Division” Winner 2022 Kanto Championship “DIV.2” runner-up 2021 National High School Championship “DIV.1” Winner, “DIV.2” Winner, “Junior High School” 3rd Place Product overview
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12361/2739/12361-2739-e0dd32f8e595907086b0e212e9d14299-411×1280.jpg Chelate Lemon W Lemon “Sour lemon juice carbonated” contains the juice of 2 lemons*1 (15% lemon juice), 1000mg of vitamin C, and 3000mg of citric acid, so you can feel refreshed while enjoying the sourness of lemon juice. *1 1 lemon = approximately 30ml of lemon juice, each lemon contains the juice of more than 2 lemons. ・Capacity/container form: 500ml/PET bottle ・Suggested retail price: 180 yen (excluding tax) : https://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/kire-to/
