Urawa Reds, in collaboration with the Twinning Project, the FIFA Foundation, the JFA (Japan Football Association), the Ministry of Justice's Correctional Bureau, and Kawagoe Juvenile Prison, will launch a soccer-based rehabilitation support program in June 2026. This program, targeting inmates of Kawagoe Juvenile Prison, is the first of its kind in Japan, implemented through the cooperation of local soccer club Urawa Reds, the Ministry of Justice's Correctional Bureau which oversees prisons nationwide, and the FIFA Foundation which supports the global expansion of this initiative.
The Twinning Project is an award-winning charity that partners with professional football clubs, governing bodies, prisons, and criminal justice agencies to leverage the power of football to support rehabilitation, personal growth, and smooth reintegration into society. Since its inception, it has partnered with leading clubs and correctional facilities around the world, helping participants develop confidence, teamwork, communication skills, mental resilience, and a stronger sense of purpose. Supported by FIFA and the FIFA Foundation, this model has expanded internationally and is now widely recognized as one of the world's most comprehensive and innovative football-based criminal justice intervention programs.

This program will be implemented for a group of 19 inmates, and will be led by coaches from Urawa Reds Heart-full Club and Academy Soccer School who hold a Japan Football Association coaching license of B level or higher.
This activity aligns with Urawa Reds' policy of "contributing to the healthy development of young people as a member of society" and "providing a place for healthy recreation in the local community," and we believe it also contributes to the following goals from an SDG perspective.

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In addition, this program will convey to participants the following four keywords that are important to Urawa Reds Heart-full Club.
(1) A spirit of doing everything with all one's heart
(2) A spirit of mutual enjoyment
(3) A heart that trusts and cares for one's comrades
(4) A thinking mind
Through soccer, we aim to convey these values to participants and help them reintegrate into society.

[Comment from President and CEO Makoto Taguchi]
Since its founding, Urawa Reds has made it its important mission to contribute to the local community and society through football.
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Twinning Project, the FIFA Foundation, the Japan Football Association, the Ministry of Justice's Correctional Bureau, and Kawagoe Juvenile Prison to implement this rehabilitation support program.
Soccer has the power to connect people, teach the importance of mutual respect and cooperation, and cultivate the ability to think and act independently. Through our Heart-full Club and Academy School activities, we have consistently conveyed not only soccer skills but also important values for personal growth.
We hope that this program will help participants regain their confidence and take a new step towards reintegrating into society.
Furthermore, this initiative embodies the club's philosophy of contributing to the resolution of social issues through the power of sports, and is the first challenge of its kind in East Asia, realized through collaboration with local communities, government agencies, and international partners.
Urawa Reds will continue to believe in the potential of soccer and work towards creating a society where everyone can have hope and thrive.

[Hilton Freund MBE – Global CEO – Comment on The Twinning Project]
We are delighted to introduce "The Twinning Project" to Japan and to launch this groundbreaking program in collaboration with Urawa Reds, the FIFA Foundation, the Japan Football Association, the Ministry of Justice's Correctional Bureau, and Kawagoe Juvenile Prison. This initiative is not only a significant milestone for "The Twinning Project," but also an extremely important step in the further development of football as a force that brings about positive change in society around the world.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all our partners and stakeholders for their wonderful cooperation, dedication, and for sharing our belief that football has the power to change lives.
At the heart of "The Twinning Project" is the belief that through soccer, we can cultivate the skills, confidence, and mindset necessary to build a brighter future. Through this program, participants will have the opportunity to develop essential life skills such as teamwork, communication, discipline, resilience, responsibility, and self-esteem. These qualities are extremely valuable both on and off the pitch and will play a crucial role in enabling young people to make positive choices, pursue a meaningful future, and reintegrate smoothly into society.

[Comment by Mauricio Macri, President of the FIFA Foundation]
The FIFA Foundation is proud to support the implementation of the Twinning Project in Japan as part of the ongoing international expansion of this initiative. This program embodies our philosophy of using football as a powerful tool to make a positive impact on society, helping participants build confidence, develop life skills, and prepare for a smooth reintegration into society.

[Comment from Kozo Tajima, Honorary Chairman of the JFA and Member of the FIFA Council]
We are delighted to launch the Twinning Project, a first in Japanese football history, with the cooperation of the FIFA Foundation, the Ministry of Justice's Correctional Bureau, and Urawa Reds. We express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has cooperated with us.
The FIFA Twinning Project, which supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society through soccer, is a wonderful initiative. This activity, the first of its kind in Japanese soccer, will be led by the coaches of Urawa Reds who have long been dedicated to promoting soccer and developing young people. We believe this will also broaden the scope of community and social contribution through soccer for J.League clubs.
The power of soccer is immense. I pray that through soccer activities, inmates will find hope and purpose in life, and that they will be able to lead good lives after their release. I also pray that this activity will contribute to creating a safe and secure society.

[Comment from the Director-General of the Correctional Bureau, Ministry of Justice]
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the FIFA Foundation, the JFA, and Urawa Reds for their continued interest in correctional administration and for their tremendous cooperation through this project.
We have high hopes for this project, as it is one of the measures to improve the treatment of prisoners under detention, which began in June of last year, and also as an initiative that will contribute to "promoting community inclusion," which is a key issue in the Second Plan for Promoting Recidivism Prevention.
Through collaborative treatment with everyone, we aim to promote the rehabilitation and smooth reintegration of inmates into society, as well as prevent recidivism.

[Comment from the Warden of Kawagoe Juvenile Prison]
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to all the organizations involved for their tremendous support and cooperation in the operation of our organization.
As a juvenile prison, our facility primarily houses inmates in their 20s, and we have decided to launch the Twinning Project specifically targeting the youngest inmates within our facility.
The four keywords promoted by Urawa Reds Heart-full Club are essential elements for the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society. Therefore, we intend to make the most of the "power of the community" and strive to further improve the treatment of inmates serving sentences.