A place where business and sport intersect in uniquely interesting ways, Japan provides an interesting market for sponsorship opportunities. Indeed, with a sports engagement rate of 68%, a brand loyalty rate of 84%, and a sports sponsorship market growing year on year, Japan is in many respects the most valuable place for brands looking to break into Asia.
A series of additional stats will no doubt demonstrate this perspective with greater clarity. Consider how:
- Japan is home to 22.1 million baseball fans (NPB), meaning that one in five people follow professional baseball
- There are 10 million J.League football fans in Japan, demonstrating the growing appeal of the sport
- Basketball is on the rise in Japan, with the B.League seeing record attendance and sponsorship growth
Already worth close to $2 billion, and with an 8.5% growth rate projected in the coming years, Japan will undoubtedly play a significant role for international brands looking for high-impact sports sponsorship opportunities. What’s more, Japan’s expanding sports fan base provides a lucrative entry point into the domestic and broader Asian markets.
A different sponsorship model
It’s important to note, too, that unlike many Western markets, where broadcasting and ticket sales drive most club revenues, Japanese sports teams rely heavily on sponsorship income. Indeed, around 50% of all J.League club revenues and over 60% of B.League (basketball) revenues come from sponsorship, and there are over 26,000 active sponsorship contracts in Japanese professional sports annually.
What this means, of course, is that brands in Japan have the opportunity to be more than just sponsors. Instead, they are able to become strategic partners for both teams and leagues, going the extra mile to ensure that their investment receives real value and works to build lasting relationships which yield high-quality activation and deep fan engagement.
Additionally, sponsorship deals in Japan often bypass major advertising agencies, leading to more direct negotiations and cost-effective opportunities compared to the markets available to brands in both Europe and North America.
Stadium naming rights opportunities
Another unique feature of the Japanese sponsorship landscape is the absence of stadium naming rights deals. While this remains an untapped opportunity, BDS is currently working with two stadiums on potential naming rights agreements. Should this be of interest to your brand, now is the opportune moment to explore such sponsorship opportunities. Of course, navigating the Japanese sponsorship landscape is much more straightforward with a partner providing expertise, an existing network, and a deep understanding of cultural nuances. That is where BDS and our partners at DeScratch come in.
With experience across multiple industries, DeScratch has worked with brands across a variety of markets such as FMCG, Real Estate, Healthcare, Automotive, Financial Services and even Think Tanks, helping them enter and expand in the Japanese market through strategic sponsorships.
More specifically, this is how DeScratch and BDS work together to help brands succeed in Japan:
- We provide access to the biggest teams and leagues. Through DeScratch, we provide direct connections to NPB, J.League, and B.League teams.
- We share deep cultural and business insights, ensuring brands understand the unique sponsorship model in Japan and how to maximise their ROI.
- We perform strategic sponsorship valuation using a data-driven approach which enables our teams to identify high-impact, cost-effective opportunities for your brand.
- We enable seamless negotiation and activation. From contract negotiations to activation planning, we handle the entire process.
Looking at brands which have successfully leveraged sponsorship opportunities in Japan, a worthwhile example is Rakuten, which went from a domestic e-commerce company to a global player through its sports sponsorship strategy. Specifically, Rakuten’s sponsorship of FC Barcelona put the brand on the world stage and its deep investment in Japanese sports also helped solidify its domestic dominance. The company also owns Vissel Kobe (J.League), using the club as a key marketing asset.
Altogether, for brands looking to gain a foothold in Japan, the right sponsorship deal can drive significant brand awareness and business impact whilst at the same time opening the door to more opportunities across Asia more broadly.
Do you want to explore sponsorship opportunities in Japan? Get in touch with BDS today, and let’s make it happen.
Last Updated on March 25, 2025
