We are pleased to announce that the 3rd GKJN Cup will be held this summer in Chicago. This event celebrates judo—a martial art originating from Japan—and will bring together around 1,000 participants over two days, including children and their families from across the U.S.
As in previous years, we humbly ask for your generous support to help cover the costs of running the tournament. This year, we again offer a range of sponsorship options for individuals, organizations, and companies, and we deeply appreciate your consideration and assistance.
1. Event Overview
| Dates: | Saturday, June 14 – Sunday, June 15, 2025 – June 14 (Sat): 27th TOHKON Cup (Individual matches for adults and children) – June 15 (Sun): 3rd GKJN Cup – Morning: Judo clinic led by Ryū Shichinohe and Megumi Ishikawa – Afternoon: Youth team competition (team matches for children) |
| Vanue: | Wintrust Sports Complex 5499 W 65th St, Bedford Park, IL 60638 (7 minutes from Chicago Midway International Airport) |
| Organizers: | GKJN (Japan) & TOHKON Judo Academy (U.S.) |
| Support (Planned): | Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago |
| Expected Attendance: | Approximately 1,000 participants (including ~600 athletes) from 10 Midwestern states and other parts of the U.S. |
| Special Guest: | Ryū Shichinohe, +100kg Silver Medalist at the 2014 and 2015 World Judo Championships, will be joining as a clinic instructor. |
2. Request for Your Support
This is a non-profit event. Unfortunately, participation fees alone are not enough to cover major expenses such as venue rental, equipment, and travel/honorariums for instructors and referees (including international airfare from Japan).
With this in mind, we sincerely ask for your support to help make this event possible and to bring joy and inspiration to children across the U.S. through Japanese judo.
Please contact us at info@gkjn.org with any questions or inquiries.
3. Sponsorship Opportunities for Organizations
(1) Financial Sponsorship
① Gold Supporter – $5,000
- Large sponsor logo on participant T-shirts (front or back)
- Logo displayed on the main event board and awards ceremony backdrop as a main sponsor
- Post-event report visit with video (approx. 10 mins) by Megumi Ishikawa (or representative)
- Invitation to give a short speech at either the opening ceremony (June 14) or before the tournament (June 15)
- Invitation to an exclusive dinner with Ryū Shichinohe on June 15 (venue: Chicago Kalbi)
② Silver Supporter – $3,000
- Medium-sized logo on participant T-shirts (front or back)
- Logo displayed on the main board and awards backdrop as a sponsor
- Post-event report visit with video by Megumi Ishikawa (or representative)
③ Bronze Supporter – $1,000
- Medium-sized logo on T-shirts (collar or chest area)
- Post-event report visit with video by Megumi Ishikawa (or representative)
(2) In-kind Contributions
We also welcome in-kind donations or promotional items aligned with family and youth interests in the U.S. These will be used as prizes for our popular raffle held at the end of the event.
Donors will be invited to present the prizes in person during the raffle.
Confirmed contributions so far :
- Daruma Restaurant: 500 complimentary lunches (Gold Sponsor status)
- Adidas Japan (Agency): 10 judo uniforms (Bronze Sponsor status)
4. Individual Contributions
We regret that we are unable to accept physical items from individuals due to shipping and handling constraints.
However, monetary donations in any amount are very welcome and deeply appreciated.
All donors will receive a thank-you letter and a 10-minute event video from Megumi Ishikawa (or representative), regardless of the amount.
How to Donate :
(1) By Check (U.S. only) :
Please make checks payable to:
“MEGUMI ISHIKAWA DBA GLOBAL KIDS JUDO NETWORK”
For bank transfers, please contact us to receive our account details.
(2) By Zelle :
If Zelle is more convenient, you may send your contribution that way.
We will convert the amount into Japanese yen and deposit it into the GKJN account in Japan.
Please email ishikawa@gkjn.org for further instructions.
(3) Via Our Website:
You can also donate securely online using Visa, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX, Diners Club, or PayPal via the GKJN homepage : https://gkjn.org
Donation Instructions :
Homepage
→ “Support GKJN” (top menu)
→ “Donate”
→ Select “One-time”
→ Choose or enter donation amount
→ Add a comment (optional)
→ Enter name/email
→ Payment info
5. Other Notes
- Please understand that all donations are non-refundable.
- Contributions will be used not only for this tournament, but also for related outreach activities such as judo clinics across the U.S., in line with GKJN’s mission.
April 10, 2025
Global Kids Judo Network
Megumi Ishikawa, Director
