Oji Holdings and Sir Safety Perugia: A Collaboration Shaped by Safety and Sustainability

On 7 and 8 October 2025, more than 30,000 volleyball fans filled the Ariake Arena in Tokyo to attend an unprecedented sporting event: the World Challenge Series, which brought together two championship teams from their respective continents - Sir Safety Perugia, winner of the CEV Champions League, and the Suntory Sunbirds, champions of Japan. A spectacular double match that represented not only a major sporting occasion but also an opportunity for dialogue and cultural exchange between Italy and Japan, under the banner of shared values.

Oji Group: Sport, Safety and Respect for the Environment

The event, supported and sponsored by Oji Group, the Japanese holding company of which IPI is part, stems from the desire to promote principles shared by both sport and business: safety, sustainability, and respect for people and the environment. These are the same values that guide the daily activities of Oji and its companies around the world - and which naturally align with the sports culture and team spirit of Sir Safety Perugia.

For the occasion, the Perugia team jerseys featured the newly updated global Oji logo on the back, symbolising a partnership built on mutual trust and the pursuit of shared goals.

A Symbolic Event for Two Cultures Coming Together

The two matches received significant media attention also thanks to the presence of some of the most renowned figures in international volleyball: from Yuki Ishikawa, Japanese athlete and key player of Sir Safety Susa Perugia, to Ran Takahashi, star of the Suntory Sunbirds. Their first direct face-off was highly anticipated by fans and served as an ideal bridge between two countries united by a passion for this sport.

IPI and Perugia: Pride and a Sense of Belonging

IPI’s headquarters are located in Perugia, the city that gave life and success to Sir Safety Perugia. This makes the initiative even more meaningful for us: a genuine connection that links our company to the local territory and, through the Oji Group, creates a direct thread between Perugia and Tokyo, between two cultures that share the same vision of responsible innovation and care for people.

A Meeting of Values Between Oji, Sir Safety and Japanese Institutions

After the matches, the Sir Safety Perugia delegation visited the Oji Group headquarters in Ginza, Tokyo, where they were welcomed by CEO Hiroyuki Isono, in a symbolic meeting that further strengthened the bond between the two organisations. The highlight of the last day of the Tour was the meeting at the Embassy of Italy in Japan, on the occasion of the second International Day of Italian Sport in the World. A large reception was hosted in the hall of the residence of Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti, with the two teams that took part in the tournament.

A Bridge Between People, Sport and Business

This collaboration between Oji Group and Sir Safety Perugia represents much more than a simple sports sponsorship: it is a message of trust and cooperation, an invitation to look beyond geographical boundaries to build together a future based on sustainability, safety and mutual respect.