GREETINGS

PRESIDENT
JAPAN LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION

Takuya Iritani

Greetings, and a warm welcome on behalf of the Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup 2017 organizing committee. This event, the only international event among all lifesaving games in Japan, has grown into a major competition with a glorious history and tradition, attracting the world’s top lifesavers, and marks its 10th anniversary this year.

I would like to express my appreciation to Sanyo Bussan Co., Ltd. and Sanyo Hanbai Co. Ltd., for their ongoing development of the event as Japan’s official national partners.

In July, after this event, Japan’s national team will participate in the 10th World Games in Wrocław, Poland. Japan gained the opportunity to participate in the World Games, an international games known as second only to the Olympics, by winning the Lifesaving World Championship in the Netherlands in 2016. The Japanese national team led by Coach Fukiko Sato, who took over from former Coach Seiji Iinuma, will compete against world-leading teams in this event.

Lifesaving sport is for rescuing people from life-threatening situations, when every moment counts, and obviously everyday training will improve saving activities. Lifesavers around the world share a common concern with preventing water-related accidents, and I hope that all athletes participating and persons concerned can convey the message of the international mission aimed at decreasing casualties from water-related accidents, which occur at a rate of one person every 90 seconds throughout the year worldwide.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Sanyo Bussan Co., Ltd. / Sanyo Hanbai Co. Ltd., and all related authorities and persons whose support and cooperation have made this event possible.

FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL GOVERNOR

Hiroshi Ogawa

I am overjoyed that the 10th Sanyo Bussan International Life Saving Cup 2017 is being held on a grand scale, and very happy to welcome visitors from various regions around Japan and the world.

Lifesaving games are sports developed from rescue techniques, with the purpose of improving the skill and physical power necessary for lifesaving at sea and at the water’s edge. I believe that holding this event in our prefecture, with many lifesavers from overseas countries, is highly meaningful in terms of promoting sports as well as encouraging people’s awareness towards prevention of aquatic accidents.

I would like to express my great respect to people in Japan Lifesaving Association and all those concerned who have put great effort and enthusiasm into preparing for this event.

In 2019, the Rugby World Cup will be held in Japan, and in Kyushu, matches will be held in Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Oita. The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are on the horizon in 2020 as well. In staging this event, we greatly appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation as we step up our efforts to promote sports, so that people both with and without disabilities can feel more comfortable enjoying physical activity.

We look forward to seeing athletes demonstrate the lifesaving techniques they have attained through strenuous training and compete with great vigor. We also hope that athletes from around the world will take this opportunity to savor delicious local food using fresh ingredients from the sea and mountains, and will enjoy their time in Fukuoka.

Finally, I would like to offer my most heartfelt wishes for this event’s success and the athletes’ health and wellbeing.

FUKUOKA MAYOR

Soichiro Takashima

I would like to extend a warm welcome to visitors to Fukuoka City from all over the world on the occasion of the Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup 2017.
Lifesavers’ day-to-day efforts to save lives at the seaside, and activities to raise safety awareness and prevent accidents, are worthy of the utmost respect. I look forward to seeing participating athletes demonstrate their abilities achieved through strenuous daily training and compete with great vigor, and hope that spectators will take a greater interest in marine accident prevention as a result of this event.

Also, I hope that on this occasion, visitors will enjoy Fukuoka to the fullest. We are blessed with both abundant nature and an advanced and highly livable urban environment, as well as a wide range of delicious cuisine including the freshest seafood from the Sea of Genkai.
In Fukuoka, international sport events including the Rugby World Cup 2019 and the World Swimming Championship 2021 will be held around the same time as the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics 2020, and these are sure to heighten people’s awareness of sports further. We ask for your kind cooperation in the future, as we continue to make positive efforts toward sports promotion from the three perspectives of “doing, seeing, and supporting.”

I would like to conclude my welcome greeting with my fondest hopes for this event’s great success and the Japan Lifesaving Association’s further advancement. Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT
SANYO BUSSAN CO.,LTD.

Zenkyu Kanazawa

I am delighted that the Sanyo Bussan International Life Saving Cup 2017 is to be held on a grand scale at Seaside Momochi Beach Park in Fukuoka, welcoming leading athletes from countries around the world.

Sanyo Bussan has been supporting the activities of lifesavers, including Japan’s national team, since 2006. The event, launched with the purpose of strengthening Japan’s leading athletes, marks its 10th anniversary this year, but this will be the first time it event is held in Fukuoka. I hope this event bringing the world’s top lifesavers to compete in Fukuoka will be an excellent opportunity to heighten people’s awareness of the importance of lifesaving activities aimed at maintaining marine safety.

Sanyo Bussan is an entertainment company that aims, through pachinko, “to take the lead in Japanese amusements”. The “Umi Monogatari” (“Sea Story)” series, one of our flagship series, has been favored by many valued customers since its introduction. This has been possible because of the “sea” theme, and the support from “those who love the sea”. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to you all.
As corporate citizens, we will continue to perform to the best of our ability in order to brighten people’s everyday lives through charitable activities that benefit not only the region but also society in general.

Lifesavers work to protect peoples’ precious lives and to perpetuate the smiles and joy shown by people visiting the sea and the beach. Our company feels a great empathy toward these lifesaving activities and it is a great honor to have the opportunity to support active lifesavers who have such a heavy responsibility for the safety of human life.

I sincerely hope that the teams competing in this challenging competition will bring out the best of their techniques and mental strength they have gained through their everyday training, and show us their best performances.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those whose efforts have made this competition possible.