Captain Tsubasa — The Ball Is Our Friend NFT: Delivering Joy and Friendship Worldwide through NFT Project Summary
In the spirit of uniting cultures and fostering joy, the “Captain Tsubasa — The Ball Is Our Friend” NFT project, created by double jump.tokyo, Inc., has emerged as a groundbreaking initiative. Spearheaded by the renowned manga artist and original illustrator of Captain Tsubasa, Yoichi Takahashi, alongside Japanese soccer star Shinji Kagawa, this venture transcends boundaries. It not only provides digital collectibles of the original Captain Tsubasa anime in NFT form but also delivers physical soccer balls to NFT holders and children worldwide. This conveys a powerful message of support and connectedness to both NFT holders and children across the globe.
NFT
The NFT project centers around the iconic “Captain Tsubasa” manga and its famous scene that declares, “With the power of soccer, we can make world peace,” known for its powerful message that soccer has the ability to bring people together and create a sense of unity.
Captain Tsubasa NFT is a completely original collection NFT that incorporates various elements of “CaptainTsubasa”, that fans love, combining the characters, more than 300 special moves from the manga, legendary scenes in the art work. People’s favorite captain Tsubasa moments come back now as digital collectible.
Sales were conducted from the period of March 2 ~ March 15 2023.
Users had the option to purchase the NFT either through the official website or Coincheck, one of the most widely used Japanese bitcoin wallet and exchange services. Users were then required to convert their NFTs into SBTs to claim their original physical item. The first edition included a soccer ball.
The physical soccer ball, sent to NFT holders and children worldwide, from Captain Tsubasa — The Ball Is Our Friend NFT featured an original illustration created exclusively for this project by the series creator, Yoichi Takahashi.
The second edition was announced with the original Captain Tsubasa hat.
SBT
Soulbound tokens (“SBTs), represent the new evolution within the category of NFTs. SBTs are non-fungible, non-transferable, non-marketable NFTs.
Captain Tsubasa — The Ball Is Our Friend NFT x World Vision Japan
The project stands as a pioneering initiative, representing one of the first use cases that successfully combines the principles of social good with the implementation of SBTs.
As part of the collaboration with the World Vision Japan child sponsorship program, one physical soccer ball was delivered to a child worldwide for every NFT purchase made, spanning across 10 countries.
In addition to the above, about 1,000 “Captain Tsubasa” The Ball is Our Friend physical balls were delivered to Cambodia, Vietnam, Uganda, Ecuador, Syria and Jordan.
A Global Community Coming Together
The success of this project is inseparable from the invaluable contributions of the global Tsubasa community, which played a pivotal role in turning this initiative into a reality. Their support went beyond enabling the delivery of tangible soccer balls; it served to fortify bonds of friendship across borders, fostering a profound sense of connectedness. This global network of brotherhood and sisterhood, comprised of adults from diverse backgrounds, comes together to support kids on the opposite side of the world. United by the shared understanding of the impact of Captain Tsubasa, the anime they once watched for inspiration, they relate to kids who continue to draw inspiration from the series today. This collective rallying around a shared passion for the esteemed Japanese IP, Captain Tsubasa, has been further solidified by the unifying power of blockchain technology.
As part of the initiative, the project encouraged users to participate in the Tsubasa Social Stadium campaign.
Users were prompted to share their shots with friends and family, fostering a collective action aimed at engaging people worldwide.
Shinji Kagawa becomes Ambassador
Shinji Kagawa is a prominent Japanese professional footballer currently associated with ‘Borussia Dortmund’ and representing the Japanese national football team. He has achieved notable milestones, holding records for the highest number of appearances and goals scored by a Japanese player in Union of European Football Association (UEFA) club competitions.
Commencing his professional football journey with the Japanese team ‘Cerezo Osaka,’ Kagawa eventually joined European Soccer clubs including ‘Borussia Dortmund’ and ‘Manchester United.’
In the video below, he shared his enthusiasm about joining the project as a project ambassador.
Recently, the physical soccer ball distribution to kids in 10 countries was completed.
The joy on the faces of these young children is a testament to the project’s success in delivering more than just soccer balls.
It underscores the achievement of happiness for children through the project’s broader vision of spreading global friendship and forging connections with the community through the power of soccer and Captain Tsubasa.
The project ambassador Shinji Kawgawa commented,
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported this project. Witnessing the smiles on the faces of children worldwide as the soccer balls are delivered brings immense joy to my heart.
Once again, I take pride in the unifying power of soccer, capable of bringing people together from every corner of the globe with just one ball, fostering enthusiasm and friendship. Having played soccer internationally and forged friendships with players from diverse countries, I have come to realize the universal value of soccer on every continent.
I hope that children living in environments that are quite unimaginable from Japan can play wholeheartedly with the Tsubasa balls, becoming carefree. I hope that kicking the ball will bring them joy, hope, and strength in abundance.”
double jump. tokyo’s Commitment
As a prominent player in the web3 industry in Japan, double jump. tokyo inc. takes pride in its dedication to pioneering advancements and showcasing innovative use cases of web3 technology.
“The NFT project stands as an innovative venture that seamlessly intertwines a globally renowned Japanese manga IP with cutting-edge blockchain technology, aiming to address pressing social issues. By placing the NFTs of ‘Captain Tsubasa’ at its core, fans from around the world have united, catalyzing actions that hold promise for the future. Our ongoing commitment involves leveraging Japan’s esteemed IP and advanced blockchain capabilities to actively contribute to shaping a new and promising future for the world.” said CTO of double jump. tokyo, Ryo Manzoku.
Conclusion
“Captain Tsubasa — The Ball Is Our Friend” transcends being a mere project; it’s a movement that embodies the influential combination of soccer, NFTs, and community. By bringing joy and friendship to children worldwide, this NFT initiative exemplifies the profound potential of NFTs in creating socially impactful global connections through cultural exchange and community’s collective efforts. Even though the project has concluded, the enduring impact of the global care, empathy, and connectedness fostered through shared experiences will linger in children’s hearts forever.
