On the 4th, Rio Nitta visited Minami-Urawa Elementary School in Saitama City, an elementary school in her hometown, and as the "Reds Teacher," gave a lecture on the theme of "Dreams" to 140 sixth graders.





"Reds Sensei" is a class where players use their own experiences to teach students about the importance of having dreams, working hard towards their goals, and the importance of family and friends who support them in making their dreams come true. This was the 38th time the class was held.

Nita appeared in the gymnasium to the shouts of "Rio Sensei" and, based on his own "dream timeline," talked about the process he went through from his childhood to becoming a professional soccer player.



The children listened intently to Nita's talk, especially as he talked about his experiences abroad. When he was offered a transfer abroad at the time, he intuitively knew that his chance had come and he immediately accepted the transfer to Austria, he said. He also said that spending a lot of time alone in a place he had never been to before gave him time to think about himself and his future, which helped him grow as a person. There was the language barrier and it was sometimes difficult, but he recalls that he was able to overcome the difficult experiences by being in a favorable environment with the support of a Japanese coach.

Nita himself said that there were many things he could not do compared to the other players and that he had many challenges, but if there was something he did not understand, he would immediately ask his coach or seniors. Looking back, he said that this was very important. He also said that although there were times when he felt like giving up, he valued staying positive and always moving forward no matter what the situation.

During the question and answer session, the children actively asked Nita questions and also shared their own dreams, providing an opportunity for them to share their dreams with each other.





At the end of the class, he enjoyed a time of interaction with the children by playing a pass rally with a soccer ball. The children who participated in Nita's class commented, "The pass relay was fun," "I'll definitely go to see Trial," and "I learned that it's important not to give up on your dreams." At the end of the class, the class took a commemorative photo and ended the class.



[Rio Nitta]
"This was my first time visiting a school in this way, but everyone asked me questions enthusiastically and listened intently to what I had to say, which made me want to share more with everyone and allowed me to talk about a variety of things. I think I was able to communicate in my own way, and if I have the opportunity, I would like to visit various elementary schools."

The players' visits to elementary schools are conducted for the children of their hometown, based on the Urawa Reds philosophy of "contributing to the healthy development of young people as members of society." By interacting with local children, the players can feel closer to the club and the players, and they will continue to send messages that give children dreams, hope, and courage.






In addition, in January, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the school's founding, members of the executive committee planted 15 "Red's Roses" in the schoolyard as a symbolic testament to the school's history and ties with the local community. The Red's Roses are scheduled to bloom in bright red from around the end of April.
Through these efforts, Urawa Reds will continue to value the development of children in their hometown and their connections with the community.