Masahiro Shiriya, Representative Director, President of SHIKIBO LTD. (hereinafter ”Shiriya”) and Leon Aurelius Taira, professional padel player (hereinafter ”Taira”). Enjoy the first talk held since the partnership was formed.

Athlete × Business

——　What made you choose this partnership?

Shiriya：It has only been about five years since you fully started playing padel, right? I heard you originally had experience in playing tennis. Were you able to become the top player in Japan this quick because you had that experience?

Taira：I suppose there are various factors at play. When I’m obsessed with something, I always want to focus on it completely. When I was just starting to play padel, I was able to take a long break and I convinced my parents that I ought to go to Spain alone for two months. I did my best every day at any rate. Of course, having experience of playing tennis is also a big advantage. More than anything else, my motivation is that it’s so much fun to play.

Shiriya：I guess that's the most important thing after all. Maybe it’s fate that you came across something you enjoy so much. It's not surprising that you would want to focus on your life as an athlete as you aim for the top as an athlete. What made you choose to form a partnership with a company rather than a common sponsorship agreement?

Taira：The fact that every sport was shut down during the pandemic made me think deeply about the value sport provides to the world. During that period, I studied programming for the first time, on my own, and joined a startup. As I learned and experienced different things there, I started to feel that I wanted not only to promote the company name while competing, but also to work together while supporting the business of the company as an athlete. Also, because there are few examples of athletes who carry out activities with these two areas in mind, I wanted to view it as a life-long challenge and give it my all.

On the world stage

——　How did Shikibo appear to you?

Taira：I got the impression that it’s a company that is modern, and always looking ahead and moving forward. I came across Shikibo when I visited the Middle East for a padel competition. Padel is very popular in the Middle East. Most of the people who come to see the matches played in the Middle East wear a thawb (traditional dress for males in the Middle East). I’d heard that they wear thawbs on any occasion, whether formal or casual, so I thought it would be cool if something they wear daily like this could be made with comfortable Japanese fabric. So I did some research online, and Shikibo’s name came up instantly. Many companies have not expanded their businesses to the Middle East because they are unsure about the internal situation and culture, but I had impression that Shikibo, which has developed business there for a long time, was a very attractive company.

Shiriya：That’s great to hear. Thank you. It’s already been about 40 years since we started working with the Middle East. In fact, the company was already doing business in the Middle East before I joined, and I’ve been told that our mermaid logo is widely recognized as a top brand there.

Taira：I think the good thing about the Middle East is that they tend to look for the finest quality. In padel, they make no compromises, for example: they hire experienced, famous coaches, build the world’s highest level of padel facilities, build the best gyms, and prepare the best recovery facilities. The same goes for the things they wear every day - they look for high quality. I think that Shikibo’s textile technology meets their expectations.

A clear ideal comes into view

——　What are the raisons d’etre of the company, from President Shiriya’s view, and for Mr. Taira as an individual?

Shiriya：I became president in June 2021, two and a half years ago, in the middle of COVID19 pandemic. Management in our existing forms of business became impossible, so we reconsidered what we were aiming for in the long term, and formed the “Mermaid 2042” Long-Term Vision. We value the phrase: “Closer to you, building a bond between you and Shikibo Group.” The value of our existence is created by being needed, but the thought we put into the phrase is that we aim to go beyond that by inspiring many people and companies to become “fans” of ours who like our products, like our services, and feel that we are indispensable. That’s the kind of company we want to grow into.

Taira：I want to introduce high-quality sustainable things, experiences, and culture from Japan to the rest of the world more and more. As an athlete, I go out into the world carrying the Japanese flag on my back. Many foreign players say that their country is the best. Players from the Middle East too have a strong feeling that their countries are the best, and they compete wearing their national flags on their backs. Talking to such players, I started to think about what Japan means to me and how I want to live my life. I realized that I wanted to serve as a bridge to connect the world with relatively unknown things and culture from Japan, where I was born and raised. I want to achieve that, not by becoming just a billboard as a player, but by working closely and enjoying a mutually beneficial relationship with the company. I want to become the center of innovation that connects people and society, starting movements around the world. Of course, I need to get results in the sport as an athlete, but I also want to deliver the uniqueness of Japan to the world together with the company.

Shiriya：Personally, I don’t want you to do one specific thing in this partnership. It’s not that I don’t care [laughs]. But rather than asking you to do this and that, we want you to do your best as an athlete in the athletic aspect while also working together in various business situations, keeping the ideas you already have. The company has established a local subsidiary in Vietnam this year, and our structure for overseas sales is being put into place. We hope that our partnership with you will help to get across more and more information to different parts of the world. With that in mind, we just want you to do whatever you think is best.

——　Finally, what word is important to you?

Shiriya：For me, it’s the word “sincerely”. I’m basically selfish, and I’ve been that way since childhood [laughs]. That’s one of the reasons why I value this word, to make sure that I’m disciplined. I also think that a manufacturer always needs to act sincerely.
While we will keep trying new things and aiming to increase our level of progress, I want to keep in mind the need for a sincere attitude as our foundation.

Taira：For me, it’s “obsession”. Obsession can be taken negatively in Japan, but being obsessed with points when playing a sport is normal, and there are times you want to win no matter what. You can’t give up. I believe that it’s important how much you keep pushing on in any situation, not just in sports. I think it’s cool to finish what we start without lowering our quality, both as an athlete and as a person, so I will keep doing my best in my life, having the word “obsession” as my motto.

Shiriya：Thank you for today. We hope that you’ll keep this level of energy, and we wish you good luck as a player. Shikibo Group is cheering you on.

Taira：Thank you very much. I will turn your support into my strength and challenge the world with all my power.