On July 30, Shusaku Nishikawa, Takeshi Wada, and Reina Nagashima Ririka Tanno of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies visited Saitama Children's Medical Center and Ronald McDonald House Saitama (Saitama House).



This activity was carried out as part of Urawa Reds' hometown activities, and continues as an activity that fosters connections with the local community, based on the club's philosophy of "creating a prosperous society for the next generation through sports."

During the visit, we first visited Saitama House, a lodging facility that supports children facing illness and their families, and interacted with members of the liver transplant family association.
As the players appeared, smiles spread throughout the venue, and they were greeted with warm applause from all the participants. The players chatted with each person, expressing their gratitude for the support and their feelings towards the children, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.



During the exchange, the players received cards with caricatures of them and heartfelt handmade gifts, which they accepted with smiles on their faces, expressing their gratitude.
Finally, a commemorative photo was taken with all the participants and players, bringing the joyful time of interaction to a close.





Afterward, the players visited the rehabilitation room at the pediatric medical center and interacted with the children undergoing rehabilitation. They presented the children with club merchandise and message cards, offering them warm encouragement.

During the interaction, the children spent a time filled with smiles, doing rehabilitation exercises using balls and engaging in physical activity together. Some of the children who were working hard on their rehabilitation also found common ground with Wada, leading to lively conversations and a friendly exchange.



Furthermore, in the pediatric ward, gifts were delivered through the Heartful Cart, bringing smiles and encouragement to the children undergoing treatment.
The players interacted with each child individually, engaging in conversation and readily signing autographs and posing for photos. It was a warm and heartwarming time of interaction, filled with smiles from the children and their families who shared this special moment.



After bringing smiles and energy to the children for about two hours, the players waved goodbye, saying "We'll come again!", and concluded their visit.
Through this visit, the players deepened their interactions with the children and their families, and it became a valuable time for them to convey the power of sports and offer warm encouragement from the players.


Nishikawa's initiative with the pediatric medical center, which began with the desire to "do what I can for the children of my hometown," has continued in various forms and is now in its seventh year. Urawa Reds will continue to cherish its connections with the local community and will continue its activities to bring smiles and hope through sports.



[Mr. Atsushi Takeuchi, Manager, Ronald McDonald House Saitama]
"Having athletes come in person is a huge source of strength for the children. We've seen firsthand how interacting with the athletes can boost their motivation for rehabilitation, and we're really feeling the power they have. Mr. Nishikawa's continued efforts to promote this activity have been a great help in raising awareness of Saitama House among many people."
To support children and their families facing illness, it's essential that more people understand the role of our house. We want to continue expanding our circle of support by connecting with Urawa Reds and the local community."

[Shusaku Nishikawa]
"This is our fifth visit, and each time, the children's smiles have lifted our spirits. We hope that by showing them our best efforts on the pitch, we can bring them even a little bit of energy and courage. I think it's important to continue these kinds of activities, and we want to keep them going. I'm happy that Wada and the ladies' players also participated this time, and that the circle of our activities is expanding."

[Takeshi Wada]
"This was my first visit to this facility, and I was a little nervous at first. But seeing the children's smiles and energetic spirits, we actually received a lot of courage and energy from them. We came here to give the children courage, but I myself received a great deal of strength, so I want to use this experience to fuel my future activities and play."

[Urawa Reds Official Media]