Dentsu Scores Big: Named Exclusive Growth Partner of Japan’s Thriving B.LEAGUE Basketball
Dentsu Inc. Appointed Growth Partner of Japan Professional Basketball League
Dentsu Inc. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and CEO: Sano Suguru) has been appointed Growth Partner of the Japan Professional Basketball League (Head office: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Shimada Shinji), a public interest incorporated association.
The Japan Professional Basketball League aims to contribute to solving various social issues and creating the future, without being bound by the concept of sports. The league has set a vision of “a nation built on emotion” for 2050 and is currently working on “B. Innovation,” a structural reform of the league that will begin in 2026, consisting of “four worldviews” and “five strategic areas.”
Dentsu shares the Japan Professional Basketball League’s vision and unprecedented initiatives, and has entered into a partnership agreement to contribute to its growth and maximization of social value. Dentsu aims to be a “true integrated growth partner” committed to the sustainable growth of client companies and society.
Comment from Suguru Sano, Representative Director and President of Dentsu Inc.
We are extremely honored to be able to partner with the Japan Professional Basketball League. Dentsu aims to be a “true integrated growth partner” that realizes the sustainable growth of our clients and partners and creates vitality for society. Under Chairman Shimada’s outstanding leadership, we will work with the Japan Professional Basketball League to create new value and contribute to the development of Japan’s sports culture, in order to realize the league’s vision for 2050: “A Nation Built on Inspiration.”
Comment from B.LEAGUE Chairman Shinji Shimada
We have signed a GROWTH PARTNER contract with Dentsu. We are extremely grateful that Dentsu will be working with us to promote basketball and the B.LEAGUE from the 2020 Basketball Championship Season. Dentsu has been working closely with client companies both in Japan and overseas to solve a wide variety of issues in a variety of situations, and as the Japan Professional Basketball League aims to contribute to society beyond the boundaries of sports and has set its 2050 VISION as “A Nation Built on Inspiration,” we feel very encouraged and are extremely grateful to be working with them in the future.
The Japan Professional Basketball League, together with B clubs across the country and Dentsu, will strive to provide new excitement and value in order to “invigorate Japan through basketball.”

Learn more about “B. Innovation” and the Japan Professional Basketball League’s vision for 2050: https://www.bleague.jp/2050vision/
