Former Japan National Football Team Member Kosuke Ota Appointed as Bizmates Ambassador to Support Athletes' Second Careers

Bizmates Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Nobuaki Suzuki; hereinafter referred to as 'the Company'), which operates the business-focused online English learning service 'Bizmates,' is pleased to announce the appointment of former Japan national football team member Kosuke Ota as a Bizmates Ambassador.

During his active career, Mr. Ota took on challenges in overseas leagues such as the Netherlands and Australia, where he experienced language and cultural barriers. After retiring, he has been working to support athletes in their second careers as the Representative Director of Tototo Inc.

In this initiative, with the core message 'On the pitch and in business, trust comes from words,' we will disseminate information on themes such as overseas challenges, second careers, and global communication together with Mr. Ota.

Additionally, today, May 25, a dialogue video between Kosuke Ota and Hika Ito, Co-founder and Director of our company, was released.

Background of Kosuke Ota's Appointment

In addition to his challenges in overseas leagues like the Netherlands and Australia, and his experience representing Japan, Mr. Ota continues to take on new career challenges after his retirement.

Currently, he serves as the Representative Director of Tototo Inc., established in 2022, and is also engaged in supporting athletes' second careers. At Tototo Inc., under the vision of 'Realizing a career where one can shine in their own way even after their athletic life is over,' they support new challenges for athletes who feel anxious about building a career after retirement.

Mr. Ota himself is someone who strongly felt the 'importance of preparing for retirement' because he experienced anxiety at the time of his retirement, feeling 'I don't know what to do' and 'I don't know how to engage with society.'

Furthermore, as the Vice Chairman of the J-League Alumni Association, he still interacts deeply with active players and often has opportunities to receive consultations regarding overseas challenges and second careers.

In recent years, athletes' second careers have gained attention as a social issue. According to a 'Survey on the Awareness of Sports Players' Second Careers' conducted by Bizmates, it was revealed that over 90% worry about their post-retirement careers, and 92.8% are interested in improving their English skills as an option for a fulfilling second career. (*)

These real-life experiences and the desire to support 'the life beyond athletics' have a high affinity with our company's philosophy, leading to this ambassador appointment.

Also, in this initiative, with the core message 'On the pitch and in business, trust comes from words,' we will disseminate information on themes such as overseas challenges, second careers, and global communication together with Mr. Ota.

* Survey Report 'Survey on the Awareness of Sports Players' Second Careers' (July 2024) https://www.bizmates.co.jp/dcms_media/other/2024-21.pdf

Comment from Kosuke Ota

'Through my experience playing overseas and my career after retirement, I have realized that words lead to trusting relationships with people and new challenges.

Especially overseas, I experienced that if you don't try to communicate yourself, you can't even grasp the chance to play. Also, the reality is that many athletes feel anxious after retirement, wondering 'what to do,' and are exploring their second careers.

Through this initiative with Bizmates, while continuing my own English studies, I hope to deliver various insights to those who are about to take on overseas challenges or new careers, and to all athletes, about the joy of expanding their world and the importance of building trust through words.'

Comment from Nobuaki Suzuki, President and CEO of Bizmates

'I feel that Mr. Kosuke Ota is someone who embodies the 'attitude of continuing to challenge oneself' through his overseas challenges, his experience as a Japan national team player, and his new career challenges after retirement.

Currently, he is also working to support athletes' second careers, and his attitude towards facing 'the life beyond athletics' has a high affinity with our cherished philosophy that 'learning supports challenges, and challenges create growth.'

Our company will advance initiatives to support athletes' second careers through Bizmates. Through this initiative, together with Mr. Ota, we hope to convey the importance of continuous learning and global communication to many people, not just in the sports domain.'

Release of the Ambassador Appointment Dialogue Video

Today, May 25, a dialogue video between Kosuke Ota and Hika Ito, Co-founder and Director of our company, was released on YouTube.

In this video, Mr. Ota talks about the language barriers he faced during his overseas challenges, the importance of communication in a global environment, and his challenges in his second career.

Also, 'Not being perfect