TOKYO, Japan, November 15, 2024 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has signed an agreement with Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. to sponsor wheelchair athlete Hiroki Kishizawa, who belongs to the Hitachi Solutions parasports team. Based on this agreement, Honda will provide support related to the Honda racing wheelchair, KAKERU, used by Kishizawa in racing.
Kishizawa began competing in wheelchair athletics in 2018 and joined the Hitachi Solutions team in 2022. His various accomplishments to date include winning the Rookie of the Year Award in the half marathon of the 2019 Oita International Wheelchair Marathon, and competing in the 1500m wheelchair racing finals in the 2024 Para Athletics World Championships held in the City of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Kishizawa is one of the young and promising athletes for Japan’s wheelchair athletics. Honda has been supporting a variety of athletes in their challenges, and was inspired by Kishizawa’s tireless pursuit of high goals which led to the decision to offer the sponsorship.
Kishizawa is scheduled to participate in the 43rd Oita International Wheelchair Marathon on Sunday, November 17, 2024 in Oita Prefecture, Japan. This race is the world’s first international wheelchair-only marathon which started in 1981, the year the United Nations proclaimed the International Year of Disabled Persons, and the 2024 race will be the first international race Kishizawa participates in after signing the sponsorship agreement with Honda. He has set goals for this race to compete on equal terms with Paris 2024 Paralympics medalists and compete in the lead group.
Based on its vision “to increase the number of people who take on challenges through sports activities and make the lives of all people more enjoyable,” Honda will continue to root for athletes who take on challenges toward the realization of their dreams.
Comments by Hiroki Kishizawa
“I am very honored to sign a sponsorship agreement with Honda. Using the world’s top-class racing wheelchair filled with the technological strengths of Honda, as a Japanese athlete, I will take on challenges to become the world’s top in my sport. With the generous support I receive, I will continue to strive for even greater progress in the future.”
Hiroki Kishizawa profile
DOB: October 27, 1996
Team: Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. Parasports Team Aurora
Sports: Wheelchair races (800m, 1500m, 5000m, marathon, and others)
Key accomplishments to date
| 2019 | Oita International Wheelchair Marathon, Rookie of the Year Award |
7th in half marathon, |
| 2021 | Japan Para Championship, Oita International Wheelchair Marathon, |
3rd in 800m 2nd in half marathon |
| 2022 | Selected for Japan Para Athletics elite athlete training program Japan Para Championship, |
2nd in 400m |
| 2023 | Japan Para Championship, NAGASE Cup Athletics Competition Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games (Japan national team) Oita International Wheelchair Marathon, |
2nd in 1500m, 5th in 800m 1st in 800m, 2nd in 5000m 7th in 800m, 8th in 1500m 9th in marathon |
| 2024 | The World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2024 (Dubai) Khorfakkan Para Athletics International Meeting Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships (Japan national team) |
8th in 1500m 3rd in 800m 9th in 1500m |
Honda and Racing Wheelchair
In the spirit of “Respect for the Individual,” which is a part of the company’s Fundamental Beliefs, Honda has been striving to offer the joy and freedom of mobility to all customers around the world and contribute to their efforts to realize their dreams. As a part of this initiative, Honda has been conducting research and development of racing wheelchairs since 2000. In addition to providing them to the wheelchair athletes Honda supports, Honda made its racing wheelchairs available for sale to any customers since 2019 to promote further advancement of wheelchair athletics.
By highlighting the efforts of people who valiantly take on challenges toward their dreams, Honda will continue to convey the joy and excitement of people pursuing their life’s potential. As a part of these initiatives, Honda will be contributing to the further recognition of wheelchair athletics and the popularization and advancement of parasports.
About Honda racing wheelchairs:
https://racer.honda-sun.co.jp/en/
About Honda wheelchair athletics activities:
https://global.honda/en/sports/activities/column2.html