～Connecting with each other through table-tennis～ Donation of children's table-tennis table to Nakano Ward Ebara Nursery School

On January 20, 2023, Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as "Nippon Paint") held a ceremony to donate the children's table-tennis table to Nakano Ward Ebara Nursery School. On February 2, another presentation ceremony was held to the mayor of Nakano Ward, Mr. Naoto Sakai. This initiative was realized in collaboration with TOYOTA Mobility Tokyo Inc., our business partner, under a comprehensive partnership agreement for regional revitalization with Nakano Ward. Nippon Paint Group has been donating table-tennis tables for children since 2018, and this was the first face-to-face donation event in the Kanto region.

The donation event was moderated by ambassador Yu Uchinami, who was a former player of Nippon Paint Group's women's table-tennis club Nippon Paint Mallets. At the opening ceremony, director of nursery school Ms. Kazumi Kono gave a greeting speech and each class was presented with a Mallet-chan doll, the club’s mascot character.

In the table-tennis lesson held afterward, a total of 64 children, including the first/second/third year of the nursery school, were divided into three groups at each grade level, and learned from ambassador Uchinami how to hold racket and hit. The table-tennis table has rounded corners and is designed to be 10 cm lower than normal height, so even small children can enjoy table-tennis safely. Ambassador Uchinami taught the children carefully how to move their body. Children laughed and jumped with joy when they were able to hit back well.

Children waiting for their turns experienced a non-contact/non-wearable motion training tool called TANO. This is a program where you stand in front of a monitor and make a practice swing, and the sensor recognizes your movements, allowing you to play various sports such as table-tennis. Children teamed up and challenged for a high score at the panel on which the score was displayed.

After the lesson, cheering good for a match were given to children by Mallets members. When ambassador Uchinami asked about their impressions of the table-tennis experience, many children enthusiastically raised their hands saying, “It was fun!”

Ms. Kono, the director of Nursery School, also commented, "Children were looking forward to today and I believe they are happy to be able to actually play table-tennis. I hope this will be a good opportunity for the children."

Also, On February 2, a ceremony was held to the mayor of Nakano Ward, Mr. Naoto Sakai, regarding the children's table-tennis table presentation. Vice president of Nippon Paint, Imaizumi said, "We thank you for the acceptance of the donations for the children." Ward mayor said, "I am very happy to be able to see their smiles while the children were not able to have fun due to the pandemic. Thank you very much."

We will continue to contribute to the local community through a variety of support activities.

Nippon Paint Group Women's Table-Tennis Club "Nippon Paint Mallets" official website

https://www.nipponpaint-holdings.com/en/table-tennis/

[Contact us for inquiries regarding Nippon Paint Mallets]

Mano, Mallets Administration Group, Nippon Paint Corporate Solutions Co., Ltd.

TEL:06-6455-9141  FAX:06-6455-9278 　 Email:mallets@nipponpaint.jp

[Other inquiries contact]

Yanagitani/Yamaoka, Public Relations, Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.

TEL:03-5479-3616 　 Email:nptumarkpr@nipponpaint.jp