DAIHATSU ONE!

July 17, 2025

Proofs of Victory: Connecting and Weaving Local Communities, Daihatsu Metal, and Daihatsu

Building Connections

  • Sports
  • Region
  • Design

Athletes are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals as proof of their victories.
The special medal has received comments from athletes who participated in the Daihatsu Japan Para-Badminton Championships Tournament, which is held once a year, saying that they have never seen these kinds of medals before and that they look forward to seeing the designs every year.
The reason for this has to do with the story behind the words “connecting” and “weaving”…

Athletes are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals as proof of their victories.
The special medal has received comments from athletes who participated in the Daihatsu Japan Para-Badminton Championships Tournament, which is held once a year, saying that they have never seen these kinds of medals before and that they look forward to seeing the designs every year.
The reason for this has to do with the story behind the words “connecting” and “weaving”…

One-of-a-Kind Medals Delivered with the Power of MONODUKURI

The Daihatsu Japan Para-Badminton Championships Tournament is one of the largest national badminton tournaments for people with disabilities in Japan.

Daihatsu not only sponsors the tournament but also produces original award medals to show its support for the athletes (since the 4th tournament in 2018).

Daihatsu employee athletes who won medals in the 2024 tournament
From the left: Taiyo Imai, Daisuke Fujiwara, Daiki Kajiwara

What is special about these original award medals?

Strap production: Workshop for traditional crafts in the local community where the tournament is held
Medal production: Daihatsu Metal Co., Ltd.
Strap & Medal Design: Styling Division, Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. Project Promotion: Sales Development Div.

These medals are only available at the tournament where companies and local communities combine their MONODUKURI power.

Traditional Straps That Connect to Local Communities

The straps that adorn the award medals are produced using traditional crafts from the local community where the tournament is held.
Each strap is carefully handmade by a workshop that preserves local traditional technology.

Here are the award medals from past years.

*Click the image to see a larger version.

2018: Kurume kasuri (Kaze no Okurimono), Fukuoka Prefecture
2019: Maiwaizome (Kamogawa Maiwaizome Suzusen), Chiba Prefecture
2020: Teori sanada-himo (Kodoan), Shiga Prefecture
2022: Kurume kasuri (Shimogawa Orimono), Fukuoka Prefecture
2023: Shin-edozome (Marukyu Shoten), Tokyo
2024: Hamamatsu Chusen (Mutosenko), Shizuoka Prefecture
Note: Tournament was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Marukyu Shoten, a company that preserves the dyeing culture of Edo (present-day Tokyo), participated in honor of the fact that the tournament was held in Tokyo. The straps were completed with the beauty of handcraftsmanship and local pride.

Incidentally, the encounter with these workshops begins with an earnest phone call from a Daihatsu representative asking for their help.
It is an important process of connecting not only through technology but also through the desire to support the athletes together!

Cast Medals Connected to Technology

The medals themselves are produced by Daihatsu Metal Co., Ltd., which supports Daihatsu’s MONODUKURI with its casting technology (technology to melt metal and pour it into a mold). Daihatsu Metal is a Daihatsu Group company that manufactures and supplies engine parts, chassis parts, and other processed metal products for Daihatsu vehicles.

This was the first attempt for Daihatsu Metal to create an object that people would hold directly in their hands.
Even so, the medals were completed after much trial and error to bring smiles to the faces of para-badminton athletes!

Many details were given careful attention. For example, tin is used as a material, and the letters and logos are embossed.

Please watch the video to learn more about Daihatsu Metal’s powerful casting technology and how the medals are made!

Apparently, there was even a joke among Daihatsu Metal employees that “Daihatsu Metals makes medals!” Feeling this small connection, high-quality medals were completed with the help of the Group’s bonds. We believe that the athletes will be delighted with the medals!

The Power of Design to Weave Desires

The Styling Division of Daihatsu is in charge of design.
The medals have a beautiful, curved design inspired by the cork at the bottom of a badminton shuttlecock.

The main colors of the straps are red, blue, and green from the “DAIHATSU × Badminton” logo, and the design is based on the local community where that year’s tournament is held and its traditional technology.

Since 2024, designers in the Styling Division have been engaged in this project as a “Challenge Work” on a voluntary basis.
They work as a unit, communicating closely with representatives from the workshop and Daihatsu Metal.
By weaving in their desires, they design the “proof” of the para-badminton athletes’ daily efforts.

Production of Medals for 2025 Begins!!

Preparations are already underway for the Daihatsu Japan Para-Badminton Championships Tournament in Nagasaki scheduled to be held on December 2025.

The other day, we visited Kawaguchiya Senkoujyou in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, which Daihatsu has asked to produce the straps for the medals!

Kawaguchiya Senkoujyou was established in 1902 and has a history of more than 120 years. (Older than Daihatsu!!)

We toured the factory and were impressed by the serious expressions on the faces of the craftsmen and meticulousness of the dyeing process.

Hiromi Kobayashi, medal production project staff : Sales Development Div.

We were all able to meet face to face, strengthening the bond between members even more! I’m looking forward to seeing the medal production!

Hiromi Kobayashi, medal production project staff : Sales Development Div.

Sayaka Ohoka, design staff, Styling Division

After seeing the work in progress and the artwork, I felt that I wanted to make the best use of hand-painted designs. I’m very excited about this rare opportunity!
I can’t wait to brainstorm the design!

Sayaka Ohoka, design staff, Styling Division

Yuki Nagaya, Daihatsu Metal Co., Ltd.

I was reminded that we also want to make medals from the heart that will impress the athletes.

Yuki Nagaya, Daihatsu Metal Co., Ltd.

Everyone gained renewed enthusiasm about the project.
In this way, new connections will be born and desires woven.

What kind of award medals will be created this year?
Please stay tuned for the medals along with the upcoming tournament!

Connecting, Weaving, and the Smiles That Lie Ahead

On the day of the tournament, Daihatsu Metal and the workshop that produced the straps will introduce the production process at the venue.

Athletes will cheerfully hold the medals that they put their hearts and souls into producing.
Being able to see those smiling faces in person is the best reward for everyone involved in the production of the medals!

It was heartwarming to write this article and feel the enthusiasm of the people behind the medal production and traditions of local communities. I hope that the desires connected and woven by local communities, Daihatsu Metal, and Daihatsu will be communicated to the athletes…

Yoshimi Iwamoto, Inner Communication Group

Related links

The people in this article

  • Daihatsu Metal Co., Ltd.

    Yuki Nagaya

  • Styling Division

    Sayaka Ohoka

  • Sales Development Div.

    Hiromi Kobayashi

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