Children Experience Deaf Sports at Kiyoto Elementary School Event

On September 24, 2025, the KEIAI Challenged Athlete Team hosted a Deaf sports experience event at Kiyoto Elementary School in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. This initiative, in collaboration with the school, is part of the educational program for the fourth graders of the academic year 2025.

The event saw participation from notable athletes including Nana Kawabata, Ai Iwabuchi, Kana Shoji, and coach Yoshiki Yamamoto from the KEIAI Challenged Athlete Team, alongside 25 students from the school. The objective was to increase awareness and understanding of Deaflympics and disabilities through sports and interactions with the athletes.

With the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics approaching in November, this event served as a valuable opportunity for children to learn about the Deaflympics, a term they were likely unfamiliar with, and to meet individuals with hearing impairments.

As the children engaged in various activities, they gained insights into Deaf sports and the experiences of athletes living with disabilities. The athletes began with introductions and discussed the history of the Deaflympics, which led to a lively quiz that elicited enthusiastic responses from the students. A gesture game challenged the participants to communicate without speaking, providing ample moments of joy and embarrassment as they struggled to convey their messages.

During ball games, many children excelled in dribbling and mini-games, prompting Coach Yamamoto to express his admiration for their skills repeatedly. The event highlighted the athletes' commitment to using their experiences to inspire the next generation.

Comments from Participating Athletes

Nana Kawabata

"It was an honor to hold the experience event at Kiyoto Elementary School. We aimed to share knowledge about Deaflympics and hearing impairments through engaging activities like gesture games and dribbling, culminating in mini-games. I noticed some children struggling particularly with communicating using gestures, so I wish I could have provided more support in that area. I hope this experience will be beneficial for them in the future!"

Going forward, the KEIAI Challenged Athletes will continue to conduct events and initiatives aimed at popularizing Deaf and Paralympic sports while fostering understanding of disabilities within the community.

About KEIAI Challenged Athlete Team

Established in April 2019, the KEIAI Challenged Athlete Team embodies the philosophy of being "the most challenging athlete team in Japan." The team aims not only to overcome disabilities but also to strive for higher achievements in sports. Currently, the team consists of nine members excelling in sports such as Deaf futsal, Deaf soccer, judo for the deaf, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair badminton.

The athletes engage in high-level training and competitions while serving as instructors for internal training sessions and participating in product development. They actively promote awareness of Paralympic sports through events and experiences. To date, they have partnered with companies, local governments, and educational institutions to conduct events, offering over 4,000 people the chance to experience Paralympic sports.

For more information, visit their official site.

About KEIAI Group

The KEIAI Group operates under the mission of creating a "rich, enjoyable, and comfortable living environment" with the vision of "homeownership for everyone." They provide high-quality yet affordable designed homes through their unique KEIAI platform and compact house business model, expanding their share in the residential market across Japan, primarily in the metropolitan area.

As of the fiscal year ending March 2025, the group aims for revenues of 342.5 billion yen, having sold 9,125 homes that year.

Company Overview

- Name: KEIAI Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 3465, Tokyo Prime Market)
- Representative: President Keiichi Hanawa
- Location: 762-1 Nishitomida, Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture, 367-0035
- Capital: 4,818 million yen (as of March 31, 2025)
- Established: November 1990
- Employees: 2,664 (consolidated, as of March 31, 2025)
- URL: KEIAI Group

For press inquiries, please contact:
KEIAI Real Estate Co., Ltd.
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