On September 20, the KOJIMA CUP kicks off in Bangkok. The winning team will earn a place at the Ugajin Cup in Japan on October 24–25, along with a five-day trip to Japan.
That dream is now getting a boost from an unexpected direction. The Tokyo HAKUHO Lions Club, an organization dedicated to youth development, has launched a fundraiser to help cover the winning team's travel costs to Japan. This post is about that growing circle of support — and how it's helping bring Thai kids one step closer to the pitch in Japan.
A quick recap: what KOJIMA CUP is about
KOJIMA CUP was founded by ASA's own Seiya Kojima — a way of giving back to the country where he spent 14 years as a professional footballer. It's a U-12 tournament with 64 teams, one of the largest of its kind in Thailand, and the champions win a trip to Japan that includes the Ugajin Cup, a J-League match, and training sessions.
We covered the full story — the format, the prizes, and why this tournament exists — in our earlier post.
→ Read our earlier post: "KOJIMA CUP Is Happening — The Champions Are Headed to Japan" (Japanese)
A new partner: the Tokyo HAKUHO Lions Club
The Tokyo HAKUHO Lions Club has long supported opportunities for children across Asia to challenge themselves on an international stage, as part of its work supporting youth development. Now they've stepped forward to help fund the KOJIMA CUP champions' trip to Japan.
For the future of Thailand's children — lend us your strength. Please support this moment, where kids from different countries get to stand on the same pitch together.
Every donation goes entirely toward the winning team's travel costs to Japan. The fact that people are stepping up to help kids from another country, speaking a different language, is itself something the kids will carry with them.
A charity tournament in Japan on August 23
As part of this fundraiser, the U10 Tokyo HAKUHO Lions Club Youth Development Charity Cup will be held on August 23 at Koshigaya Sports Ground in Saitama, Japan. It's a tournament built around teaching kids consideration, gratitude, and fair play through football — and at the same time, a charity event to help fund the trip for the Thai kids heading to the UGAJIN CUP in October.
- Event: U10 Tokyo HAKUHO Lions Club Youth Development Charity Cup
- Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026 — gates open 8:00 AM, kickoff 9:00 AM
- Venue: Koshigaya Sports Ground, Saitama, Japan
- Age group: U10 (4th grade and under)
- Format: 8-a-side, free substitution, 35-minute matches (15-5-15)
- Awards: Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place; a medal for each team's top player
A donation box will also be set up at the venue on the day. Kids on the other side of the world, chasing the same ball with the same spirit, are helping support another group of kids they've never met — that tournament, on its own, is already a meaningful step toward connecting with KOJIMA CUP.
How to support the fundraiser
Here's how you can help send the KOJIMA CUP champions to Japan:
- At the venue: A donation box will be set up at the reception desk during the Charity Cup on August 23. Every contribution, large or small, is appreciated.
- By bank transfer: Tokyo Shinkin Bank, Takadanobaba Branch, Ordinary Account 4119529 (Account name: HAKUHOTOKYO Lions Club)
If you're transferring funds, please add "Thai Football Support" before or after your name (this step is optional if it isn't convenient). All donations go directly toward travel and accommodation costs for the Thai kids competing at UGAJIN CUP, and results will be reported later through the Tokyo HAKUHO Lions Club and tournament organizers.
September 20 — and beyond
On September 20, 64 teams will gather at Versus Stadium, all playing for one thing: a single spot at the top. What's waiting beyond that is the Ugajin Cup and a five-day trip to Japan — and right now, people across Japan are steadily building the foundation that makes that trip possible.
Until the day kids from two countries stand on the same pitch together, ASA will keep nurturing this bridge between Thailand and Japan through KOJIMA CUP.
Related: KOJIMA CUP Is Happening — The Champions Are Headed to Japan (Japanese) | See all blog posts
Sending Thai kids to a Japanese pitch.
Which team will earn that ticket? We're looking forward to your team's entry — and to everyone cheering this journey on.
Enter the KOJIMA CUP →