SPECIAL
／ SPECIAL ／
AMBASSADORS
Koichi Nakano
AMBASSADORS
PROFILE
Koichi Nakano was born in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
In 1977, he became the first Japanese rider to win the sprint event of the World Cycling Championships, a feat he repeated for 10 consecutive years until 1986. Known as “Mr. Nakano of the World” and “Mr. Keirin,” he was one of the first Japanese athletes to compete overseas. In 2006, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon.
MEI UEDA
EVENT QUEEN
PROFILE
Mei Ueda was born in Udo City, Kumamoto Prefecture. In 2024 she beat out 32 contestants to be Japan's representative to the 62nd Miss International Beauty Pageant. She took on the challenge of the competition while working as a home economics teacher at a high school in Kumamoto Prefecture. In May 2024, she was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for Uto City and is also active as an ambassador for Kumamoto Prefecture!
KUMAMON
EVENT CHEER CAPTAIN
©2010 Kumamoto Prefecture Kumamon
MESSAGE
I’ve become the Cheer Captain for MyNavi Tour de Kyushu 2024! Wow! In October this year, amazing cyclists from all over the world will gather in our Kyushu! Come cheer for them with me! ☆
PROFILE
Birthplace: Kumamoto Prefecture
Birthday: March 12
Gender: “I’m a boy!”
Special Skills: "Dancing" and "Finding Surprises and Happiness"
Job: Technically a civil servant. Sales Manager and Happiness Manager of Kumamoto Prefecture. Spreading the Kumamoto Surprise to share the charm of Kumamoto with everyone.
New Role: Appointed Cheer Captain for MyNavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 in April 2024.
MYNAVI TOUR DE KYUSHU 2024
EVENT CHEERLEADERS
PROFILE
The cheerleaders are led by Sayuri Soga, who was the first Japanese cheerleader in the NFL, the world's most prestigious sporting event.
EVENT TROPHIES
EVENT TROPHIES
Produced by plating company Kyushu Denka Co., Ltd., engraved by Mr. Masaharu Inoue (Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture), also known as THE Iron Man, with Kyukyo Co., Ltd. processing the mirror parts. The trophies were manufactured jointly by the three companies, who donated them to the tournament. The name of the winner from last year is engraved on the trophy.
MEDALS
Stage Winner Award
Medals will be presented to the winner of each stage and the top Japanese rider.
※ The medal design is for illustrative purposes only.
STAGE WINNER - Kajima Corporation
Awarded to the athlete finishing each stage in first place.
※ The medal design is for illustrative purposes only.
BEST JAPANESE RIDER AWARD- Fukuoka Trans Co., Ltd.
Awarded to the Japanese rider who finishes each stage in first place out of the Japanese participants.
LEADER JERSEYS
Incorporating the emblem representing "One Kyushu," the Mountain Prize is designed to evoke "the blessing of the mountains' water."
OVERALL INDIVIDUAL AWARD - Mynavi Corporation
The most prestigious title of the "MyNavi Tour de Kyushu 2024" is awarded to the rider with the fastest combined individual times across all stages. The rider wearing this jersey on the podium at the Fukuoka stage on the final day will be crowned the overall winner.
POINTS AWARD - Bridgestone Corporation
Points are earned throughout the race, from sprints and climbs at various points throughout the race, and are also awarded based on the finishing order at the finish line.
KOM AWARD - Suntory Foods Corporation
King of the Mountains: Points are awarded to the first-place finishers based on their passing rank in the KOM (mountain points) of each stage.
YOUNG RIDER - Nippo Corporation
Among the riders who are under 23 years old (January 1, 2002) in the year of the event (2024),The prize will be awarded to the rider with the fastest total individual time in each stage.
OFFICIAL THEME SONG
「HOPE」 Vocal：Soala Music: Marchin / Nanako Ashida Words: Nanako Ashida Produce: Yasuko Matsumoto
MESSAGE
“The game of life is hard, it’s hard, it’s hard,There are times when you want to run away, but don't give up! All the people who are supporting me are saying “Go for it!”I will turn my own struggles and the bond with my team into strength!”
This is the message I want to convey.
-Soala-
PROFILE
Soala is a singer-songwriter from Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture who has captured the hearts of her listeners with her life-sized lyrics and catchy melodies. Her active live performances have attracted more than 150,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Her songs have been played more than 50 million times in total! Since its release 6 months ago, her “SURECHIGAI” music video has almost 3 million views! With more than 140,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, she receives enthusiastic comments from young people and adults alike on a daily basis. Her second “one-man” live concert is scheduled to be held on August 25, 2024.
MYNAVI TOUR DE KYUSHU LOCUS PROGRAM
The Mynavi Tour de Kyushu LOCUS Program, developed in cooperation with the Mynavi Corporation, is a program to create contacts between local companies and high school students in order to promote regional development. By connecting this competition and the LOCUS Program, we will work together with high school students on the ideas behind this competition and how to solve issues in the region.
INTRODUCTION OF LOCUS INITIATIVES IN 2023
