NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN, Head office: Osaka City, President: Hiroshi Ohkubo, listed on First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange) will be the title sponsor of “Tour of Japan” (hereafter TOJ), the largest international cycle road race in Japan, as part of the company's 100th anniversary activities.
TOJ is the highest-level UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) official international cycle road race to be held in Japan. This year marks the 20th time the race has been held, and the first time NTN is the title sponsor of the event. This year the race spans a total of eight stages over eight days, starting with the Sakai stage (in Osaka) on May 21 (Sun) through to the Tokyo stage (in Tokyo) on May 28.
A press conference was held by the TOJ organizer on March 29 in Ebisu, Tokyo, providing an overview of the new event logo, new leader jersey and other details. NTN President Hiroshi Ohkubo also explained the significance of the TOJ sponsorship, the sponsored event “NTN Rotating Workshop” and other details.
NTN is aiming to achieve development of a “smooth society.” Sponsoring such a prestigious race is viewed as a significant event that can contribute to the development of a “smooth society” beginning with NTN's 100th anniversary.
(from left)
Osamu Kurimura, Director of TOJ
Kohshi Harada, TOJ Kids
Hiroshi Ohkubo, President of NTN
Ryunosuke Hattori, TOJ Kids
Katsumi Ishiguro, Chairperson of TOJ

The following is an overview of the sponsorship.
Significance of sponsorship
Bicycles have become the symbol of ecology, a topic that is in common with the concept of global environmental conservation behind NTN's tribology technology. Bearing technology aimed at making things move smoothly, and this cycle road race that pursues the smoothest run, align perfectly with the goals of NTN.
TOJ is effective for regional promotion as it attracts a large audience from the general public, and NTN also considers it an extremely important event for contributing to the local community. With this in mind, NTN hopes to make a valuable contribution to the development of regions hosting cycling stages.
Sponsored event
The “NTN Rotating Workshop,” an event using the cycling race to boost ties between communities and next-generation, will be held in each stage.
NTN employees will run a curriculum that includes workshops, hands-on technology sessions and wall posters for children and spectators in each region to help them learn about technology related to energy-saving, tribology, bearings, natural energy and other fields while having fun.

Outline of the race