On the 24th, the "Saitama Soccer Festa 2025 With thanks to Mitsubishi UFJ Bank" was held at Urawa Komaba Stadium.
This event was held in collaboration with Urawa Red Diamonds and RB Omiya Ardija, taking advantage of Saitama City's status as the home town of four J.League and WE.League teams, with the aim of conveying the unique charm of being a "city of soccer."

The day was blessed with fine weather, and 2,025 people attended the venue, with smiles spreading throughout the day, especially among families with children.



At the Saitama City booth at the venue, an exhibition was held introducing the history and initiatives of soccer culture in Saitama, the "city of soccer," and the appeal of soccer culture was communicated through the exhibition.



During the morning session, a soccer class for elementary school students was held on the main pitch, and the participating children were able to experience the joy of soccer under the guidance of Urawa Reds players and Heart-full Club coaches.





Meanwhile, on the sub-ground, various exchange programs were held for people of all ages, with the themes of "playing," "watching," "learning" and "supporting" soccer.
Among these, many participants gathered at the booths for experiencing three types of football for people with disabilities - "blind football," "amputee football," and "electric wheelchair football" - as well as the "disaster prevention sports" experience booth planned by the Urawa Ward General Affairs Division, where experience events were held that made use of the characteristics of each sport. Participants were surprised by the depth of football for people with disabilities and disaster prevention sports, which they do not usually have the opportunity to experience, while also enjoying the appeal of these sports as football.



In addition, adults and children alike took on the challenge of one-two shots, including former players and players from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies, and the event was a huge success, filled with smiles and cheers from start to finish.









Additionally, with the cooperation of Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, the event also included a "Redia Bank Stamp Rally" aimed at teaching children how money works. Participants were issued a stamp card and collected stamps by participating in each program, which could then be exchanged for Redia banknotes according to the number of stamps they collected. Redia banknotes they collected could be used to exchange for merchandise or to enter a raffle for luxurious prizes, allowing children to have fun while learning about the value and use of money.






In the afternoon, the "Urawa vs Omiya Dream Match" was held, where participants from the general public formed teams with former players and women's players from both clubs to play a "Saitama Derby" of walking soccer. Former players and participants could be seen playing together with smiles on their faces everywhere, creating a friendly and warm atmosphere.







At the ceremony, greetings were given by Masatoshi Ishizuka, Director of the Sports and Culture Bureau of Saitama City, the organizer of this event, read on behalf of the Mayor, and by Shigeo Ito, Chairman of the Saitama City Council, followed by greetings from Urawa Reds representative Taguchi on behalf of both clubs.
Next, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank Omiya Branch Manager Nakayama Osamu gave a speech, and then representative former players from both clubs spoke about their enthusiasm for the upcoming Urawa vs. Omiya OB Special Match. Finally, everyone took a commemorative photo, and the ceremony came to a close.



The event concluded with the "Urawa vs Omiya OB Special Match," which featured the kind of serious competition you'd expect from the Saitama Derby. The venue erupted in excitement when former Urawa Reds player Takeshi Mizuuchi scored the opening goal in the first half. There was some intense contact play, and the players put in their best efforts to fulfill requests from the children in the venue who wanted to see an overhead kick.
Although they conceded a goal in the second half, Urawa Reds won 3-1 thanks to goals from Akira Tokaibayashi and Toru Chishima. The event ended with the venue filled with excitement until the very end.







[Urawa Reds former player Takuya Nagata]
"Honestly, it was a very enjoyable day. But at the same time, I feel a pleasant sense of fatigue (laughs). As this is a once-a-year opportunity, I was able to talk with some of my senior alumni, whom I don't get to see very often, as well as teammates I'd not seen in a long time, including Ardija players, and I'm glad that I was able to reunite at an event that contributes to the community. Since retiring, I've had more opportunities to talk with many people, and it's made me realize once again how much support I've received from so many people. I'm not fully prepared for today, but I think I'm still running. However, when I see my senior colleagues still moving around, I feel a little worried about what I'll be like in 10 years' time.

I was also able to meet the seniors I played with during my active days, which brought back memories. Everyone is still as skilled as ever, and I was amazed at how they haven't lost their skills even though they've been retired for so many years. My debut match was at Urawa Komaba Stadium, so I was very happy to be able to play at a place that holds so many memories for me, and to be here as a native of Urawa, and it was a fun time. There are still many players who are working hard, and I would like to continue working hard so that I can be a bridge that connects them to their seniors when they retire.













[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]