One of the great things about the game of golf is the fact that anyone can enjoy a rejuvenating round of play while surrounded by the splendors of nature—the fresh sunlight, a refreshing breeze, the green grass. This is true for men and women of all ages and remains true for as long as we have our health. So that we may pass on to future generations this splendid natural environment along with the joys of golf, let us all do what we can for the earth right now, starting with what each of us can do personally. Together, let us take these first steps for the sake of future golfers 100 years from now!

I played the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in 2016,2017 and 2018, and it was my great honor to be in winner’s circle two years in a row. I was grad to lean that there has been several initiatives in the Tournament, such as charity fund-raising that contributing to local community, and moreover, such initiatives have been carried out for almost 30 years which is truly impressive.
I support the series of SRI's initiatives for SDGs and personally, I will start what I can do for SDGs.

I am from Northern Ireland, and Europe is a leading area in terms of SDGs, with the top 10 countries in the world ranking in terms of SDGs achievement by country all being European countries. Dunlop is a brand that originated in the UK. I have high expectations for Dunlop's SDGs initiatives for the future of the planet, sports, and children.

The Open Championship in 2019 was one of the special games to me in my career. I remember that in the Open, the tournament organizer encouraged actions to reduce the use of plastic cups and bottles.
We, the players in the game demonstrated bringing and use of personal bottle to take the lead in the action.
It's been more than 2 years since then, and I see such environmental free practices in our daily lives, and I realized such movement spreading across the world.

While I enjoy going out for a drive in my car, I always make a conscious effort to practice eco-driving in order to reduce my CO2 emissions. This is one small thing that I can do to lessen my own impact on the earth’s environment. Global warming is a huge problem that affects us golfers as well. And so, I want to change our awareness and our actions even if only a little, starting with the things that we can do right now.
※Eco-Driving: A style of driving that aims to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by (for example) avoiding sudden acceleration and braking as much as possible.

I was three years old when I started playing golf, and my younger brother, Jinichiro (who is also a pro golfer), started playing at the age of two. Golf is a game that anyone can enjoy, from young children to senior citizens. And as I myself can attest, one can make many friends and learn many things while playing golf. So that we can pass on these joys of golf to future generations, I want to do whatever I can for the earth’s environment, starting with the things that we can do right now.

In 1985, I became the first Japanese pro golfer to win the DUNLOP Phoenix Tournament, which has special meaning for me as a native of Miyazaki Prefecture, where the tournament is held. Since long before SDGs became the talk of the town, this tournament has gone hand in hand with DUNLOP’s social contribution activities in Miyazaki, something that I very much hope to see continue long into the future. I also think that it is wonderful how DUNLOP is taking on the challenges of transitioning to 100% sustainable raw materials* in all of the golf balls that they sell by the year 2050.
※As part of our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, we are committed to gradually increasing the amount of biomass and recycled raw materials that we use in our golf balls and tennis balls. We aim to begin selling practice balls with 20% sustainable raw material content by the year 2030. Next, we will aim to ensure that all of the golf balls that we sell are made with 100% sustainable raw materials by the year 2050.
Sustainable Raw Materials: Biomass Raw Materials (i.e. Raw Materials Derived from Non-Petroleum Natural Resources) & Recycled Raw Materials

We pro golfers play throughout the year, and this has given me a first-hand glimpse of the emerging effects of climate change. Already, torrential rains and days of extreme heat are occurring with noticeably greater frequency than before in some areas. One small thing that we can do about this is top dressing to nurture and protect the grass at golf courses. I believe that this kind of small action and attentiveness can accumulate and ultimately contribute to overall environmental protection for the whole planet.

When it comes to sustainability activities, I think that it is very important for both companies and individuals to make an effort, starting with what they can do now.
DUNLOP is making an effort by removing the plastic film from packing boxes for golf balls and gloves. I believe that this kind of activity is having a positive effect in terms of building momentum toward reducing the use of plastic throughout the industry.
I myself also hope to make a conscious effort to engage in environmentally friendly activities, no matter how small.

I have collaborated with DUNLOP for nearly 30 years now. Not only do they support me personally by providing rackets, balls and other gear, but they also sponsor a major international wheelchair tennis tournament in which I compete: the DUNLOP Kobe Open.
Behind their continuing support, I sense a strong passion for bringing the joys of tennis to all comers while leaving nobody behind, as well as a strong sense of responsibility and dedication to contributing to communities and to society at large.
Although athletes and sporting goods manufacturers occupy very different positions in society, our thoughts are one and the same, and so I look forward to continuing to forge ahead together.

In my case, I only began seriously competing in wheelchair tennis after reaching the age of 35. Nevertheless, once I started, I never stopped working to achieve my dream of winning a medal at the Paralympics. When my dream finally came true, the sense of achievement and fulfillment that I felt in that moment gave me so much joy; I would not trade that feeling for anything in the world.
For the sake of the earth’s environment, DUNLOP has pledged to use 100% sustainable raw materials in all of the tennis balls that they sell by the year 2050. This goal is very challenging, but I also think that these efforts are very exciting.
I hope to see DUNLOP continuing to take on the challenges of such lofty goals without giving up when it comes to working toward a brighter future for the sport of tennis.