Photo/Illutration Shonan Bellmare defender Taiga Hata, center, wears the special sunflower uniform alongside members of a group providing support to Ukraine. (Satoshi Ushio)

HIRATSUKA, Kanagawa Prefecture--Sports teams in Japan tend to shy away from making political statements, but the J.League's Shonan Bellmare could no longer watch from the sidelines. 

The soccer club is showing its full support for Ukraine and its resistance to the Russian invasion.

There are no Ukrainians on the Shonan Bellmare roster or other special ties to the nation.

However, Hiratsuka native and club Chairman Kiyoshi Makabe, 60, said, “At a time when Ukrainian children are suffering, I thought about whether there was something we could do beyond only providing humanitarian assistance.”

Shonan Bellmare’s “Sunflower Project” consists of two major activities.

Because the sunflower is considered the national flower of Ukraine, the first activity will be handing out sunflower seeds to those attending home games here.

The club is preparing 240,000 sunflower seeds for distribution. In addition, a donation box will be set up at the stadium and the proceeds will be presented to a nonprofit organization providing medical support to Ukraine.

The second activity will be a limited-time uniform designed in the yellow and blue colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Hiratsuka is noted for its Tanabata Festival every summer and from 16 years ago, Shonan Bellmare has designed a special star festival uniform in the summer that players wear. Fans can also purchase the uniform replica.

This summer’s uniform will be available for sale to fans until May 5, with each costing 15,400 yen ($122), tax-inclusive.

All profits from the uniform sale will be donated to help the Ukrainian cause.

Shonan Bellmare has long experienced financial difficulties but Makabe said that doesn't matter.

“We have been blessed with the happiness of being able to continue playing sports due to the support of many people," he said. "We want to create a local community where sunflowers bloom and which does not forget about Ukraine or war. We want to plant the seeds every year in the future.”

What is now occurring in Ukraine brings back memories of Makabe’s own childhood.

The Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival began in 1951, but its predecessor was a reconstruction festival.

Because an Imperial Japanese Navy facility was located in Hiratsuka, it was targeted for a U.S. bombing attack in July 1945, which destroyed about 70 percent of the central part of the city.

Born in 1962, Makabe remembers people who had lost arms or legs in the war taking part in the Tanabata Festival.

“I believe the local community has an obligation to pass on that history to our children,” he said. “What is now happening in Ukraine could someday also occur in this nation. But that should never be repeated.”

Makabe has also noted that many Western soccer teams and sports federations were quick to express support for Ukraine and criticize Russia. He wanted Shonan Bellmare to serve as a catalyst for a similar movement in Japan.

Makabe added that because the sunflower is also considered the national flower of Russia, people should understand that not all Russians want the war to continue.

Shonan Bellmare players will debut the special summer uniform at the May 3 home game against Shimizu S-Pulse. The uniform will be worn at all home games in July and August.

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