Hitting it Out of the Park for the Asahi Baseball Association
The Brand
Asahi Baseball in Vancouver has an incredible history. Until 1941, the Asahi team was the pride of the Japanese Canadian community and a symbol for equality and respect. However, 73 years ago, the Vancouver team played its last game as Canadians of Japanese descent were removed from the west coast of British Columbia and sent to internment camps during World War II.
Following a movie in 2000 about the plight of the team, the Asahi Baseball Association was established to commemorate the original Vancouver Asahis and drive a resurgence for the team.
Today, the Association creates a supportive and fun environment that gives youth an opportunity to learn about their history, develop their baseball skills, and participate in exhibition games and tournaments in Canada, Japan, and the USA. The Association turned to StudioTPM for help in sharing its important cultural perspective to raise awareness, attract new players, and boost fundraising efforts.
A Brand Identity Worthy of the Major Leagues
Dean and Makiko Ara, principals of StudioTPM, are heavily involved in the Japanese Canadian community in Vancouver. Both are sensei in the Canadian Kendo Federation and they enjoy supporting Japanese Canadian sports and businesses throughout their community. It was an honor to work with the Asahi Baseball Association on their brand strategy and positioning. The team at StudioTPM helped the Association tell its fascinating story in a compelling and accessible way.
“StudioTPM captured our special story in a way that few others could have. Their deep understanding of our heritage shone through in the content and design of our new website and marketing materials,” said Tomio Fukumura, Vice President, Asahi Baseball.
StudioTPM launched a visually-striking, user-friendly website that emphasizes recruitment and fundraising—the Association’s main goals. They also designed brochures and other marketing materials to amplify the message further.
“After the launch of our beautiful new site, our team experienced a surge in popularity and has attracted many recruits and strong coaches year-after-year,” said Tomio Fukumura, Vice President, Asahi Baseball. “We couldn’t have achieved our recruitment and fundraising goals without the help of StudioTPM.”
StudioTPM SERVICES
- Content Creation and Storytelling
- Brand Identity
- Website Design and Development
StudioTPM TAKEAWAY
It’s especially important for non-profits to prioritize and establish a framework for ongoing growth and success. With a clear plan, organizations can capture ongoing community support and awareness.
“We couldn’t have achieved our recruitment and fundraising goals without the help of StudioTPM.”
