(Sat) December 27th, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Reds Land, an event was held to attempt a Guinness World Record™ for the "Most people forming the shape of a soccer ball with their bodies." The event was held in the chilly weather with a cold wind, but many participants gathered at Reds Land, and the event ended with the wonderful result of being certified as a world record.




Reds Land opened in July 2005 as a community-based sports facility that embodies the J.League's "J.League Centennial Vision." Formerly the Tokyo University of Agriculture athletic field, this place is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year as a local base for not just "watching" but also "playing" and "enjoying" sports. The catchphrase used to mark this anniversary is "Reds Land - Together with the community, with smiles, forever." It expresses gratitude for the past 20 years and a desire to continue walking together with the community in the future.



The main event of this year's event involved participants wearing red and white uniforms and forming a giant human alphabet of soccer balls. The target number of participants was set at 5,502, in reference to the slogan "Go! Go! Reds!"





To liven up the day, players also took part. Participating were Toshikazu Teruuchi and three players from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies Ladies, Ise Hana and Kumazawa Kaho. The players who gathered on this day were alumni of the academy, born after 2005, when Reds Land was established. Players of the same generation who grew up with Reds Land and worked hard here during their academy days, worked together with local residents to achieve a common goal.





With a mixture of excitement at achieving a world record and nervousness wondering whether they would be recognized by the official Guinness World Records adjudicator, the participants followed the staff's instructions and gathered on the field. In order to meet the certification criteria, "It must be recognizable as a soccer ball at a glance" and "The green of the soccer field must not be visible," the participants called out to each other and spent about an hour creating a giant soccer ball that filled the center circle.







The final number of participants was 1,198. Although they fell short of the initial target of 5,502, they successfully achieved the Guinness World Records™ certification for "Most people forming the shape of a soccer ball." When the official adjudicator announced the record, the venue was filled with cheers of relief and joy.





To commemorate their achievement, participants received an official Guinness World Records™ certificate. After the event, participants enjoyed taking commemorative photos with the athletes and their certificates. As proof of their record achievement, participants were also given a photo of the day and a mount to display it on.







Reds Land will continue to move forward together with the local community over the next 20 years and into the future, so that it can continue to be a "second home" for its visitors.

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]