Goodday's 'DIY' Meets MINT TOKYO's 'Power to Run': Launch of a New Sports Education Model Where Children Create and Think for Themselves

Goodday Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City; President: Takashi Yanase), which operates 67 home centers named 'Goodday' across northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi, has launched the 'Athlete Grown Through DIY Project' in collaboration with 'MINT TOKYO Athlete Club' (hereinafter 'MINT TOKYO'), a track and field club based in Kurume City. This initiative aims to cultivate children's autonomy, creativity, and problem-solving skills through DIY activities.

As the first initiative, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, an 'Original Mini-Hurdle Making Workshop' will be held at the Digital Craft Studio inside the Goodday Kurume Nonaka store, targeting students from MINT TOKYO.

MINT TOKYO, participating in the workshop, is currently one of the most watched club teams, with Seita Me of the boys' junior high school 100m category setting a new Japanese all-time record in June 2026—breaking a 28-year-old record.

This project aims to create a new sports education model where children experience creating, using, and improving their own equipment, fostering not only athletic ability but also critical thinking and the courage to challenge.

A New Form of Education: Home Center Meets Track Club

In recent years, children's environments have drastically changed. While surrounded by finished products and services, experiences where children think for themselves and create through trial and error have decreased.

Goodday has long promoted the joy of 'making things by yourself' through DIY workshops and digital crafting experiences. Meanwhile, MINT TOKYO emphasizes not only athletic improvement but also character development and self-driven growth.

With these aligned philosophies, the two organizations have launched this project as a new educational program merging 'DIY' and 'sports'.

Project Launch: Creating Your Own Mini-Hurdle

The first phase of the project involves making mini-hurdles used in track and field training.

The material used is PVC pipe—commonly available at home centers—lightweight, portable, and designed for easy disassembly.

Participants will not only assemble the parts but also apply MINT TOKYO's corporate colors and attach original stickers to create their own personalized training tools.

After completion, they will use the hurdles in actual training, deepening their understanding of the equipment and learning how to improve it through their own ideas.

The Mini-Hurdle Being Made

Creating Tools to Cultivate Thinking

This project is not merely a craft activity.

'Why is this tool necessary?'

'How can it be used more effectively?'

'How can it be improved further?'

Through the cycle of making, using, and reflecting on tools, the project aims to develop not only athletic performance but also the ability to identify and solve problems independently.

Combining sports and crafting is rare nationwide. Goodday and MINT TOKYO will continue their collaboration to create the new value of 'athletes grown through DIY'.

Record-Holding Athlete to Participate

The workshop will include participants from the National Junior High School Track and Field Championships (All-Japan Junior High School Championships) and those who have broken U16 standards. Notably, Seita Me, who set a national record of 11.01 seconds in the boys' junior high school 100m—breaking a 28-year-old record—and qualified for the All-Japan Championships as a first-year student, will also attend.

By seeing top athletes engage in making their own training tools, children will learn the importance of valuing equipment and thinking creatively to improve it.

MINT TOKYO places equal importance on character development and athletic growth, and this project embodies that philosophy.

Future Plans

This project marks the first step in Goodday's vision of 'athletes grown through DIY'.

Under the concept of 'Sports are not something to buy, but to create,' the initiative aims to create new experiential value by combining DIY and sports, fostering environments where local children can learn and grow independently.

Going forward, based on insights from this initiative, the organizations plan to explore phased expansions, including making training equipment, upcycling sports gear, and collaborating with local sports clubs and schools.

<MINT TOKYO Coach Ryo Goya's Message>

'Our motto is to raise strong athletes, not just fast runners.

The ability to think, innovate, and challenge is the true value we want to deliver to children through sports.

We are delighted to partner with Goodday to realize this new learning opportunity—making tools ourselves. When children make their own tools, they naturally develop attachment and begin to ask: Why do we do this training? How can we make it better?

Sports and DIY may seem different, but at their core, both are about thinking for oneself, taking action, and growing. Through this project, we hope to deliver a new form of learning to children in our community and grow this initiative from Kurume to the entire nation.'

MINT TOKYO URL: https://mintsports-club.com/clubteam_fukuoka

Event Overview

Event Name: 'Athlete Grown Through DIY Project' Launch Event – 'Let’s Create an Original Mini-Hurdle'

Date and Time: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 12:00–17:00

Venue: Digital Craft Studio, Goodday Kurume Nonaka Store

Participants: 20 athletes from MINT TOKYO Athlete Club

Content: Creation of original mini-hurdles using PVC pipes

Coloring with MINT TOKYO corporate colors and application of original stickers

Media Invitation

Media coverage of the workshop, as well as interviews with MINT TOKYO organizers and Goodday workshop staff, are welcome.

Please contact Goodday's PR department for media inquiries.

About Home Center Goodday

Goodday operates 67 home centers across Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Kumamoto, and Yamaguchi, primarily in northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi. Guided by the philosophy of 'A great day created together as a family,' Goodday goes beyond the traditional home center concept, offering diverse activities. Stores host various workshops in gardening and DIY, as well as the 'Workshop Collection,' a children's workshop expo, positioning itself as a 'learning home center' that provides not just products but also experiences and learning opportunities.

Company Name: Goodday Co., Ltd.

Representative: President and CEO Takashi Yanase

Head Office: 1-6-8 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 14th Floor, Tenjin Twin Building

Founded: February 1950 (Goodday No. 1 store opened in Ōnojō in 1978)

Capital: 50 million yen

Business: Operation of Goodday home centers

Products: DIY tools, plants, gardening supplies, pet supplies, interior items