On the 5th, with the start of the 2025 season just around the corner, Representative Makoto Taguchi, Home Town Headquarters Director Yakushiji Tomoyuki, Sports Director Satoshi Horinouchi, and Tomoaki Okubo paid a courtesy visit to the Saitama Prefectural Government Office.

First, they visited the Saitama Prefectural Government Office and greeted Mr. Tsunehiro Ida of the Urban Development Department. President Taguchi said, "We had a training camp in Okinawa for about three weeks to improve the team's precision before the start of the season next week. The players, team staff, and club staff will come together and aim to win the J1 League this year." He continued, "This year, the Club World Cup will be held in the United States in June and July, and 32 of the world's best teams will gather at this tournament. We want to spread the name of Urawa Reds to the world as a representative of Saitama and Asia." He also expressed his enthusiasm for the world tournament.



In the governor's absence, Director Ida of the Urban Development Department delivered a comment from Governor Ohno, saying, "In the 2025 season, Saitama Stadium will be filled to capacity for every Trial, dyed entirely in red, and I want you to win the J1 League for the first time in 19 years, and make the names of Urawa and Saitama known throughout the nation. When we win the J1 League, we will hold a parade and celebrate with all the people of the prefecture. In addition, you will be representing Japan and Asia at the Club World Cup to be held in North and Central America this year, so we will be cheering on your team together with your world-class supporters, so that you can bring about results that will amaze the world at the Club World Cup."



When asked about the training camp, SD Horinouchi commented forcefully, "The biggest gain was that we were able to finish the training camp without any major injuries. Despite having many new players, the atmosphere in the team is very good, and we have been training hard while pursuing rigor. There were Trial Trial the training camp in which we showed our strengths, but there were also Trial in which we needed to improve. We will make some adjustments in the time until the start of the season, and we would like to give it our all in our first game against Vissel Kobe."



Finally, when asked about the competition for positions among the players, Okubo commented, "We have a series of games coming up, but while competing, we want to improve each other and cooperate with each other, and at the same time, I want to show my presence.
This is my fifth year with Urawa Reds, so I would like to demonstrate my leadership skills within the team."



After some pleasant conversation, the Prime Minister presented Ida, Director of Urban Development, with a uniform signed by a top team player, and Ida then gave him a stuffed quokka, which is said to be the happiest animal in the world and has its roots in Saitama Prefecture.



Afterwards, they visited the prefectural assembly and met with the assembly chairman, Kuniaki Saito. Chairman Saito offered words of encouragement, saying, "I hope you will demonstrate your full potential this season and show us a fun-to-watch style of football. We are also pleased that you will be participating in the Club World Cup. We hope that this will be an opportunity for you to make further progress and we sincerely hope for good results. I pray that you will be injury-free and achieve great results this season." The courtesy visit ended with these words of encouragement.





On the following day, the 6th, they visited Saitama City Hall and paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Hayato Shimizu Shimizu. They presented Mayor Shimizu with a uniform autographed by the players, and after taking a commemorative photograph, they had a pleasant conversation.



Mayor Shimizu offered words of encouragement, saying, "This year, not only do we have the J.League, but we also have the Club World Cup, so I am looking forward to seeing you win. Many of our key players were transferred last year, but under Coach Skoruja, I think you will approach this season with a renewed spirit. I'm sure there are many fans who are hoping for you to win the J1 League and do well in the Club World Cup, so I would be happy if you can live up to their expectations."

Next, they paid a courtesy visit to the Saitama City Council. Okubo presented Chairman Kazuyuki Hoashi with a jersey signed by a top team player, and they chatted after taking a commemorative photograph.





Chairman Hoashi offered words of encouragement, saying, "I really hope you will aim to win the championship this year. There have been some changes in players, but I think that the tactics will also change with the addition of new players, so I am looking forward to Trial. I hope that you will continue to challenge yourself and work hard for the sake of Saitama, the city of soccer." SD Horinouchi also spoke of his enthusiasm, saying, "First of all, we want to win the first game against Vissel Kobe and prepare so that we can get off to a good start." The conversation proceeded in a harmonious atmosphere, and the two-day courtesy visit came to a close.

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]