Sports Lottery Medalists Join Appreciation Event Matsuko's Style Explodes!

On October 6, the Japan Sports Council (JSC) held a "Sports Lottery (toto・BIG) Appreciation Event" at Shibuya Hikarie in Tokyo.

Sports lottery was introduced in 2001 to secure new funding sources for developing and enhancing Japan's sports environment. To date, approximately 123.8 billion yen in grants from its proceeds has been provided to sports organizations, local governments for sports promotion, and athletes.

At the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, 54 of the 65 medals (approximately 83%) won by Japanese athletes were by recipients of "Athlete Grants." Furthermore, looking beyond the 2020 Tokyo Games, grants are being provided not only to top athletes but also to youth athletes.

This event features actress Kyoko Fukada, the Sports Lottery's commercial character, and talent Matsuko Deluxe, alongside Rio medalists expressing their gratitude for the grants.

When Fukada appeared on stage and said, "When I see Matsuko-san on TV, I think 'she's my big sister'," Matsuko immediately denied it, saying, "I don't think you do!" Then, quickly turning to the press, she delivered a preemptive punch, joking, "Don't write articles saying 'Matsuko gets a big head when Fukada calls her big sister'!"

Following them, seven athletes took the stage to discuss Rio medal hopes: wrestlers Saori Yoshida and Kaori Icho, weightlifter Hiromi Miyake, judokas Shohei Ohno and Masaki Baker, Paralympic track athlete Atsushi Yamamoto, and wheelchair rugby player Daisuke Ikesaki.

When asked about his Rio memories, Ono shared, "I'd heard the Olympics put you in an abnormal mental state. It was funny seeing Naohisa Takato constantly pacing around his room." Matsuko quipped, "Well, I'm always mentally unstable, so every day is like the Olympics for me," drawing laughter. When Kaori Icho joked, "The chocolate drinks in the athletes' village were so good, I kept sipping them," the MC retorted, "Why aren't you teasing her back?!" and freely asked, "By the way, how old will you be in 2020?" "By the way, how old will you be in 2020?" she said, saying whatever she wanted.

When Fukada said, "The scene where Miyake rubbed her cheek against the barbell was deeply moving and left a strong impression," Matsuko retorted, "My highlight was Matsu's grandmother."

When the conversation shifted to the importance of financial support for athletes, Yoshida stated, "From the perspective of both athletes and coaches, it's incredibly important and appreciated." Ikesaki added, "Sports lottery funds also help nurture promising athletes," as they all expressed gratitude and expectations for the grants.

Matsuko concluded, "Rio really got people excited about the Paralympics too. To make the Tokyo Games the same, we need money. Sports lottery tickets pay out dividends, so everyone should buy more!"

Starting October 6, the Japan Sports Council (JSC) will release a new web movie titled "The Joy of Fighting. The Rio Bronze Medal Won by Harnessing Individual Skills." The ninth installment in the series depicts the Japanese Wheelchair Rugby Team, which won Japan's first-ever bronze medal at the Rio Paralympics.

Sports Lottery Medalists Join Appreciation Event Matsuko's Style Explodes!

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