Maho Hamada: Cultivating the World in Enoshima

2023/02/13

The serious gaze of someone fighting with all their might is truly wonderful.

Even in situations where my heart might have broken if I were doing it for myself, I can take one more step forward if it's for someone else. Soccer is what taught me that.

I am currently the CEO of ENOSHIMA FC Co., Ltd., operating the local soccer club "Enoshima FC." Enoshima FC is a community club established in 2020 to develop a platform that provides comprehensive support for the four external factors that cause young people to give up on their dreams (lack of peers, space, knowledge, and funds). We are working toward joining the J.League and Nadeshiko League. We have two top teams with gender-neutral nicknames characteristic of Gen Z: "WAVES" (men's team) and "SEAS" (women's team).

I have spent more than half of my life with soccer. I received energy from many players both when I aspired to join the Keio University Soccer Club and after I joined. I want to support such players. Since the day I fell in love with soccer as a fan 17 years ago, I have explored ways to be involved with the sport relentlessly. "I want to create a world where people don't struggle because they have only done soccer, but rather where paths open up precisely because they have played soccer." This is why I am involved in soccer today.

Since joining Enoshima FC in 2021, I, as a non-player, thought about how I could contribute to the organization and focused on areas such as player career support, sales, and public relations. This attitude was recognized, and the following year, I was asked to become the CEO. In my hometown of Shonan, I could solve social issues using the soccer I love. I made an immediate decision with the spirit that "the one who acts, wins."

Enoshima FC aims to be "the world's most moving soccer club."

In Japan, where there are said to be 5,500 adult soccer teams, simply moving up the categories is not enough to fulfill the purpose of a newly established team. We focus on the thoughts and passion of various stakeholders and, as a soccer team, refine stories that cannot be converted into cash. In Enoshima, which has diverse charms such as surfing, music, and agriculture, we aim to be a club that serves as a point of connection for people and supports all the challenges of those who walk alongside Enoshima FC.

To children who have stopped dreaming, and to adults who can no longer dream. Why not cultivate the world with us?