EXE PREMIER”, a global professional league accredited by FIBA, from the 2022 season.

ZIGExN Co., Ltd. ((Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative, Operating Officer and CEO: Joe Hirao; Securities code: 3679; 1st Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange; hereinafter referred to as “ZIGExN”) announced today that it has established a new base in Kyoto, “ZIGExN Kyoto Office (tentative name)”, as the second step in its efforts to “Create Local Communities”, one of its key sustainability initiatives, and it launched “ZIGExN UPDATERS.EXE”, a professional 3×3 (3-player basketball) team based in Kyoto, and from the 2022 season, it will participate in the “3×3. EXE PREMIER”, a global three-person basketball league approved by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

■Background to the Establishment of “ZIGExN UPDATERS.EXE
As the 15th anniversary of its founding in June 2021, ZIGExN has established a “Purpose”, meaning of the Company’s existence, and has established the phrase “Update Your Story, for a better Future”. We believe that you are the star of your life. With this in mind, we have incorporated management based on purpose not only into our businesses and services, but also into our organization and sustainability activities, emphasizing the co-creation of value with our stakeholders as the foundation for sustainable corporate growth.

In April 2021, we established the Sustainability Promotion Office and formulated materiality (priority issues) to be addressed on a priority basis. As part of one of these initiatives, “Creating Local Communities”, we have decided to establish “ZIGExN UPDATERS.EXE”, a professional 3×3 (3-player basketball) team based in the Kyoto Office, which is scheduled to open this spring, and to participate in the 3×3. EXE PREMIER 2022, a global league for 3-player basketball.

According to the Federation International Basketball Association (FIBA), 215 countries are members of FIBA, and the number of players is said to be 450 million worldwide. In Japan, the B.LEAGUE, a professional five-man basketball league, is gaining momentum as it prepares to launch a new league in 2026. The fan population has also recovered to 5.67 million even in the Corona disaster. (*)

In the same way, 3×3.EXE PREMIR, a professional 3×3 basketball league, opened in Japan in 2014 ahead of the rest of the world, and was adopted as a sport for the first time at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last year, attracting even more attention as one of the urban sports such as skateboarding and BMX.

Kyoto is also one of the most popular student cities in Japan, with approximately 160,000 students. ZIGExN will utilize the “Kyoto Office” as an open office, aiming to create a place where students and other young people in Kyoto can gather through 3×3 basketball. ZIGExN will announce the team players and the activities of the Kyoto Office as soon as they are decided.

(*) “Joint survey by Macromill and Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting

■Summary of “ZIGExN UPDATERS.EXE” team
[ Team name ] ZIGExN UPDATERS.EXE
[ Home Town ] Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
[ Team color ] Dark indigo
[ Representative ] Joe Hirao, Representative, Operating Officer and CEO, ZIGExN Co.
[ URL ] https://zigexn.co.jp/sustainability/3×3
[ SNS ]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zigexn_updaters.exe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZIGExN_UPDATERS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZIGExN-UPDATERS-109014761668889
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zigexn_updaters.exe

[ Team Logo ]

Through 3×3 basketball, ZIGExN will create and manage teams with an awareness of sustainable development, valuing ties with local governments and communities. The team’s name reflects our determination to “Update (evolve)” the lives of our stakeholders who will become newly involved with ZIGExN ‘s entry into the “3×3.EXE PREMIER” league.

[ Slogan ]
“UPDATE the YOUTH” – We will support the challenges of young people.

In Kyoto, which is a home having one of the largest number of students in Japan, we will realize sustainable activities in cooperation with stakeholders in various fields, with young people playing a leading role, including regional revitalization in Kyoto through sports promotion, support for athletes’ second careers, and team management involving students.

■About Kyoto Office
[ Name ] ZIGExN Kyoto Office (tentative)
[ Establishment date ] Spring 2022
[ Location of Head Office ] Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture (planned)