Daiko Printing Continues Sponsorship of National Youth Baseball Tournament 'Pop Athlete Cup,' Making Cross-Team 'Card Exchanges' a Lifelong Memory for Children

Daiko Printing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Osaka; Representative Director: Takahiko Takamoto), which develops printing and original goods businesses, will sponsor the 'Sense Trust Tournament 20th National Youth Rubber Baseball Tournament Pop Athlete Cup Sen'ichi Hoshino Flag Battle' hosted by the non-profit organization National Youth Baseball Promotion Association this year as well, through its sports photo and goods sales site 'PhotoGoods.' Starting with the Osaka opening on Saturday, May 23, 2026, qualifiers will be held nationwide, aiming for the finals in December. The company will provide 'Athlete Collection Cards' to players participating in the tournament, supporting interaction among players beyond team boundaries and the creation of lifelong memorable experiences.

[Background and Thoughts on Sponsorship]

'PhotoGoods' is a sports photo goods sales site based on three core philosophies: 'Deepening bonds,' 'Supporting,' and 'Praising good fights.' Under the philosophy of deepening bonds by making and exchanging cards with teammates, delivering feelings of support by turning players' active figures into goods, and praising children's growth by leaving a record of their hard work every year, the company has provided original goods at youth sports sites.

In recent years, the trading card market, represented by Pro Baseball Chips, has shown vitality, and the value of the experience of 'collecting, exchanging, and showing off' cards is drawing attention again. Amid this momentum, the company believes there is great significance in the youth baseball world for children themselves to become the main characters of the cards and experience exchanging them with peers.

The Pop Athlete Cup holds up the motto 'Begin with courtesy, end with courtesy,' and is a tournament that values courtesy and sportsmanship as well as winning and losing. A unique culture of nurturing respect for opponents is rooted here, such as both teams mixing to take a 'No Side Photo' after matches. The company has continued to sponsor this tournament for 12 years (since the 9th tournament), deeply resonating with the philosophy cherished by PhotoGoods.

['Card Exchange' Creates Lifelong Memories for Children]

The core of the company's sponsorship is the 'Card Exchange' initiative at the tournament. At the opening ceremony of the final tournament, original trading cards for each participating player are produced, providing time for players to exchange cards across team boundaries.

Teams that normally face each other as opponents naturally converse and communicate with smiles, triggered by the card exchange. The act of 'exchanging' trading cards has the essential value of acknowledging, respecting, and dialoguing with the other party. Through this experience, connections as 'friends' beyond winning and losing are born.

The exchanged cards remain with the children along with memories of the tournament. Participants and parents have highly praised it, saying 'exchanged cards become lifelong memories for children,' and the bonds with peers and memories of matches are revived every time they look back at the cards even after the tournament. PhotoGoods continues this initiative, convinced that a small good like a card can create a significant experience that remains in children's hearts.

Card Exchange Video

[2026 Initiatives]

From the 2025 tournament, players from approximately 2,000 teams participating in the qualifying tournaments, not just the final tournament teams, have been able to purchase Athlete Collection Cards as participation commemorations. This initiative will continue in the 2026 tournament, providing more children with the opportunity to get their 'very own cards.'

Players can easily order original cards comparable to professional ones, delivered in about 10 business days, simply by preparing their photos and entering the front design, team name, player name, and uniform number from a computer or smartphone. Not only the players themselves, but also managers, coaches, and siblings can order. As an annual tournament participation commemoration, the record of growth can be kept year by year.

Also, for storing cards, a Pop Athlete Cup limited card holder (80 pockets, up to 160 cards storage) is added to the product lineup in April 2026. While beautifully storing the collected cards, children can show them to peers and look back on the memories of the exchanges.

[Provided Product Lineup]

- Athlete Collection Card 8-piece set 1,100 yen (tax included) - Athlete Collection Card 16-piece set 1,900 yen (tax included) - Athlete Collection Card 48-piece set 2,800 yen (tax included) - Athlete Collection Card 100-piece set 2,800 yen (tax included) - Sparkling Foil Card (1 piece) 1,100 yen (tax included) - Sparkling Foil Card + Acrylic Stand 1,800 yen (tax included) - Card Holder (80 pockets, up to 160 cards storage) 1,100 yen (tax included)