The Resona Group has expanded its financial and economic literacy program for children to six locations across Japan in collaboration with the B.LEAGUE, incorporating basketball training sessions and a life-planning simulation game into the third year of the joint initiative. The program, designed to teach children about money, employment, and future planning through professional sports, features coaching sessions led by club staff and interactive career exercises.
B.LEAGUE Clubs Partner with Resona Group Branches
The 2026 collaboration schedule spans six regional sessions across Japan, pairing local B.LEAGUE clubs with Resona Group banking branches and corporate offices. On July 22, the Saitama Resona Bank Koshigaya Branch hosted players Josef Jawara and Taketeru Oba of the Koshigaya Alphas. Simultaneously, the Resona Bank Fukuoka Branch welcomed Hayato Kantake and Yusuke Kano of the Rizing Zeever Fukuoka.
Activities continued on July 24 as the Kansai Mirai Bank Biwako Department hosted Shiga Lakes players Jumpei Iwanishi and Daichi Nomoto. On the same day, the Minatoginko Head Office and Resona Bank Kobe Branch hosted Keigo Kimura and Michiya Nakajima of the Kobe Storks. The Alvark Tokyo participated on July 29 through the Resona Holdings Corporate Communication Department, represented by Shuuto Ando and Ryo Iida. The series concludes on August 6 at the Resona Bank Osaka Department and Kansai Mirai Bank Sakaisuji Branch, featuring Rei Goda and Seiga Sakamoto of the Osaka Evessa.
Curriculum Blends Athletic Instruction with Financial Education
The curriculum combines professional athletic instruction with practical financial education. Basketball sessions are led by club coaches, giving participants a structured introduction to fundamentals and team dynamics alongside current B.LEAGUE players. The financial component centers on the “Life Budgeting Game,” where children role-play as professional basketball players. Participants move through career stages from active play through retirement, secondary careers, and eventual superannuation, experiencing how financial decisions shape long-term security and future planning.
Children Link Teamwork with Financial Stability
Feedback gathered from participating children highlights the program’s dual focus on teamwork and financial awareness. One participant noted that playing sports together fosters natural cooperation and connection, while another observed that achieving personal goals requires financial stability. Others remarked on the universal role of money across different careers and expressed appreciation for the labor required to manage household finances. Children who had no prior basketball experience also reported positive engagement with the player-led drills.
The Resona Group initiated its partnership with the B.LEAGUE following its appointment as a title partner for the men’s professional basketball league in 2024. The financial institution positions the youth academy within its core social contribution framework, utilizing athletic partnerships to promote youth development and economic literacy simultaneously.
