Supporting the Exciting Matches in Hokkaido! Sponsoring the 9th National Floor Volleyball Tournament for Schools for the Visually Impaired

Chugai Pharmaceutical was a special sponsor of the 9th National Floor Volleyball Tournament for Schools for the Visually Impaired, held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, from August 19 to 21, 2025. This marks our second year of supporting this event.

Floor volleyball is a sport designed so that people who are blind or have low vision can enjoy playing together with sighted individuals. Teamwork is essential, as front players who cannot see must cooperate closely with sighted players in the back positions. At the national tournament, spectators are captivated by the players’ keen hearing, quick reactions, and the wide range of strategies born from their seamless coordination, all delivered with an astonishing sense of speed.

This year again, teams from schools for students who are blind or have low vision that advanced through regional tournaments gathered to compete for the championship. The passion of each team aiming for the top clashed in highly dynamic matches filled with intense movements and sounds. As in the previous year, our employees participated as volunteers, assisting with tasks such as updating the scoreboards.

Participants shared their impressions:
“The players wearing eye shades performed so well that it was hard to believe they couldn’t see. I was deeply impressed by the strong trust they showed in communicating with each other.”

“I joined intending to volunteer for event operations but discovered that floor volleyball is an exciting and highly engaging sport.”

As part of our commitment to building a healthy and inclusive society, we will continue to create opportunities for everyone to actively participate, regardless of disability.