On June 20,2009, as part of Canon's contribution to the community, the 12th Canon Enjoy the J. League Program took place in the form of a soccer workshop for disabled children living in Kanagawa Prefecture.

This program, designed to acquaint kids with the fun of sports through soccer, is a cooperative venture between the J. League and official league sponsor Canon that stretches back to 2003.

The latest Canon Enjoy the J. League event, while remaining true to the program's spirit, featured a new twist in that it took the form of a soccer workshop.

Fifteen young soccer enthusiasts gathered at the MM21 Training Center (Marinos Town), where the Yokohama F. Marinos practice, to learn the basics and techniques of the game from eight coaches including Mikio Miyashita, the team's public outreach coach.

Part way through the workshop the Yokohama F. Marinos players, who were practicing nearby for the next day's game, appeared on the training pitch to cheer the kids on. The children's excitement was palpable as they joined the team members for a group photo and shook their hands. They then offered the players a message of support. "Thank you all for coming today. Give it your best tomorrow when you play the Reds!" Speaking for the whole team, Takashi Amano replied loud and clear, "Together we intend to win tomorrow, so root for us!" The kids were thrilled.

Canon employees who had signed up in advance as volunteers manned the reception desk, showed participants around, and generally helped out with the workshop. In the process they got to interact directly with the children and the adults accompanying them.

(The next day Yokohama F. Marinos beat Urawa Reds 2-0!)