06.23.2019

EMPOWERING JAPAN'S NEXT GENERATION OF BALLERS

Stephen Curry Rallies Partners Under Armour and Rakuten to Make Basketball Youth Better
(STAY CONNECTED WITH ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES ON THE 2019 UA BASKETBALL ASIA TOUR HERE.)

Basketball is a global game; a sport that transcends boundaries and continues to cross borders and unite people. That growth, however, hasn’t occurred on its own and requires the hard work and inspiration from many to provide platforms for youth worldwide to commit to honing their skills for the love of the game.

 

Under Armour and Rakuten are teaming up with Stephen Curry to put in that work in Tokyo, Japan. As part of a new partnership between the brands, united by Stephen Curry - who is visiting Tokyo now with Under Armour for the third time since 2015 - there will be an emphasis on connecting with youth players for on-court mentoring in an effort to inspire participation in basketball and enrich societal impact through sport. The partnership announcement was made at International Christian University with Stephen joined by Shuichi Yasuda, Under Armour Japan/DOME CEO and Hiroshi Mikitani, Rakuten CEO and founder.

 

Under Armour’s mission is to make all athletes better, and now the latest product innovations - including UA RUSH, Curry 6 footwear in the Roaracle colorway, and a suite of Stephen Curry's basketball training accessories and apparel - are available on Rakuten Ichiba and Rakuten SPORTS ZONE as part of the brand’s new partnership.

 

Rakuten Ichiba is one of the biggest online shopping malls in Japan, and even so, it has always championed opportunity and a platform for all. Accordingly, as the lead partner of Stephen Curry's Underrated Tour, powered by Rakuten, the tour is coming to Tokyo, to inspire players who feel undersized and underrated in the game of basketball. Tokyo’s Underrated Tour stop will offer personalized training and tailored activations providing Japan’s most promising athletes with unprecedented resources, knowledge and access, and is the only tour stop being held outside of the U.S. Since its launch, the Underrated Tour’s players have been outfitted in Curry 6 footwear and Under Armour uniforms, with Under Armour as the provider of footwear and apparel for the youth players.

 

Fans from across Japan will be able to share in the Underrated journey with an exclusive Under Armour Underrated training top - available only on Rakuten Ichiba. And as Tokyo gears up for next summer, Under Armour, Rakuten and Stephen Curry will be planting the seeds for the next great Japanese basketball superstar to take the world by storm.

 

Youth players Noa Gustafson (left) and Junn Brooms join Stephen Curry to discuss their on-going journeys in the game

Youth players Noa Gustafson (left) and Junn Brooms join Stephen Curry to discuss their on-going journeys in the game

Exclusive Under Armour Underrated training top available now on Rakuten Ichiba

Exclusive Under Armour Underrated training top available now on Rakuten Ichiba