OREANDA-NEWS. March 16, 2012. ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has concluded agreements with renowned television personalities to serve as the face of the Italian sports brand FILA, for which ITOCHU owns the mater licensing rights in Japan, as part of its promotion activities. For 2012, young, talented actor Junpei Mizobata will once again be the male face of the brand. A contract has also been concluded with TV personality Nozomi Sasaki as the new female face.

FILA is a sports brand founded in 1911 in Biella, Italy. Today, it conveys the style, passion, creativity, and disposition unique to Italy to a worldwide audience. FILA aims to be a brand loved not only by athletes and sports enthusiasts who are striving to win and set new marks, but also by general consumers who enjoy a more casual relationship with sports, for instance as spectators.

 Under the circumstances, the fresh, appealing image of Nozomi Sasaki is to be communicated to the all-important younger market, with the determination to better present FILA as a stylish and attractive sports brand from Italy.

 Visual materials featuring Junpei Mizobata and Nozomi Sasaki will be advertised in stores, as well as on magazines, websites and various other media starting mid-March, to expand recognition on the FILA brand even further.

The FILA brand celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, and has now begun its 101st year. With its history as its foundation, the identity of the brand as a sports brand loved by consumers who enjoy sports as a part of their lifestyles is to be communicated even more clearly, in an effort to enhance the brand value.