Connect Corporation Announcement of retirement of player Chikara Watanabe

[Connect Co., Ltd.] Announcement of retirement of player Chikara Watanabe ​
Connect Co., Ltd. Press Release: September 26, 2025 Announcement of retirement of professional baseball player Chikara Watanabe Connect Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo / Representative Directors: Shunsuke Momose and Yusuke Yamada / Director: Satoshi Ogawa), which primarily provides systems development and consulting services, as well as managing athletes and cultural figures, operating chiropractic salons, running a farm business, producing and selling the global apparel brand “nana-nana,” and publishing its owned media outlet “media CONNECT,” is pleased to announce that Chikara Watanabe (former Japan national soccer team player), who is managed by our company, will retire from active play after the league match on Sunday, September 28, 2025. We would like to inform you that Chikara Watanabe will be retiring from active play after the final league game on Sunday, September 28th. Watanabe Chikara graduated from Kunimi High School and went on to Waseda University. After graduating from university, he joined Yokohama F. Marinos in 2009. In his first year with the team, he scored
double-digit goals and won the Rookie of the Year award. He was called up to the Japan national team for the first time that same year, and on January 6th of the following year, he started in the match against Yemen, marking his first appearance in an international A-match. He subsequently played for FC Tokyo, Vissel Kobe, Gamba Osaka, Yokohama FC, and Matsumoto Yamaga FC, consistently appearing in matches and scoring goals. He has a total of 424 appearances in the J.League, scoring 109 goals. Joined SHIBUYA CITY FC in the 2024 season. That season, he contributed to the club’s long-awaited promotion to the Kanto Football League Division 2. He played in 35 games for SHIBUYA CITY FC, scoring 5 goals. Following the match on September 28th, Chikara Watanabe will no longer participate in team activities after September 29th. After training on September 27th and after the match on September 28th, there will be time to interact with fans and supporters at the venue. ■ Chikara Watanabe Comments To all my fans, supporters, and everyone involved in the sport: I have decided to end my career as a professional soccer player and retire. This decision was reached after a long period of reflection, deliberation, and careful consideration. I have been blessed with so many encounters and experiences throughout my career, and have had such wonderful and irreplaceable times. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the managers, coaches, and staff who guided me at each club, starting with Kunimi FC Junior, Kunimi Junior High School, Kunimi High School, Waseda University Association Football Club, Yokohama F. Marinos, FC Tokyo, Vissel Kobe, Gamba Osaka, Yokohama FC, Matsumoto Yamaga FC, and SHIBUYA CITY FC, as well as my teammates who fought alongside me, and to the fans and supporters who supported me at all times. I’m also grateful to my parents for allowing me to play soccer without any serious injuries, and to my family for always being on my side and supporting me. Retiring was not an easy decision, but I’ve faced my body, my feelings, and my future, and have chosen to take this step with a positive attitude. From now on, I would like to move on to the next stage in a way that allows me to give back to the sport of soccer that I love. Thank you very much for everything. And I hope to continue to love and support the wonderful sport of soccer. Chima Watanabe For more information about this release automatically, so please do not reply.