An NST Employee Was Selected for the Japanese National Lacrosse Team
Jun 13, 2023
Kazuki Obana, an employee of Nippon Steel Trading Corporation (NST) working in the Credit Management Department, has been selected to play for the Japanese national team at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship*.
Last year, Mr. Obana was also selected for the SIXES Japanese men’s national lacrosse team at The World Games 2022**. He scored the game-winning goal in the third place playoff match, bringing victory to the team and earning the Japanese national lacrosse team its first-ever bronze medal at a world championship.
In his fourth year at university, his team won the Japan Lacrosse National Collegiate Championships and he was selected as a candidate for the Japanese national team. He subsequently joined NST with a strong determination to continue with lacrosse while working fulltime. At his new job, he was assigned to the Credit Management Department, and has worked hard to carry out his duties while securing time to train, balancing work and lacrosse with a strong focus on working efficiency and schedule management.
In addition to company annual paid leave, NST granted special leave to Mr. Obana for appearing at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship. While he was away, his coworkers took over his duties so that Mr. Obana could concentrate on the matches.
Comment from Kazuki Obana:
I am extremely encouraged that thanks to the special leave granted by the company and to the backup of everyone around me at work, NST has recognized me not only as a valued employee but also as a lacrosse player. I will do my best to bring home a medal even higher than the bronze medal from The World Games 2022.
NST sincerely congratulates Kazuki Obana on his selection for the Japanese national team. We will cheer for his success. We hope that his bravery and passion embody the values of NST, and that they will be an influence on many others. NST will continue working to promote a work-life balance so our employees can continue to enjoy and enhance both their work and their personal lives.
(NST efforts to support a work-life balance)
https://www.nst.nipponsteel.com/en/sustainability/social/well-being.html
Go for it, Kazuki Obana!!
* 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship
This world lacrosse championship is held once every four years. Thirty nations that battled through the preliminary matches will gather in San Diego, California in the United States from June 21 (Wednesday) to July 1 (Saturday), competing in the group league and finals tournament. (Japan was exempted from the preliminary matches this time because of its sixth place finish at the previous championship.)
Japanese national team match schedule (Japan time)
● Group league (Pool B)
Match 1 vs France (33rd place at the previous championship): June 23 (Fri) 5:00 am start
Match 2 vs Uganda (40th place): June 24 (Sat) 1:00 am start
Match 3 vs Wales (14th place): June 25 (Sun) 5:00 am start
Match 4 vs Denmark (34th place): June 26 (Mon) 8:00 am start
● Finals tournament: Starting June 28 (Wed)
For match results and other details, please see the official website of the Japan Lacrosse Association.
https://2023m.lacrosse.gr.jp/tournament/
**The World Games 2022
Held from July 7 to 17 in Birmingham, Alabama, the games consisted of 30 official events and five demonstration events. Around 3,000 top athletes from approximately 100 countries and regions participated, all aiming to be No. 1 in the world in their sport.
The Japanese national lacrosse team SIXES (six-a-side) won the bronze medal (the first ever bronze for the Japanese national team).
* Inquiries regarding this release:
Corporate Communications Section
General Affairs & Corporate Communications Department
NIPPON STEEL TRADING CORPORATION
TEL: +81-3-6772-5003 FAX: +81-3-6772-5401