At the 4th remote soccer class featuring Kyoto Sanga F.C.'s Honda Fuchi (本田風智), elementary school students in northern Kyoto Prefecture were given the opportunity to learn techniques and attitude through a screen.
The 4th remote soccer class, held on 4 October 2026, was organised jointly by KDDI, Kyoto Sanga F.C. and Kyoto Prefecture as part of a public-private partnership project aimed at addressing issues such as the declining birth rate and the shortage of local coaches. Children in areas far from Sanga Town Joyo took part in lessons with the sense of immediacy of receiving coaching from a professional player through a screen.
Honda Fuchi (本田風智) appeared as the instructor and provided coaching on looking around to assess the situation. With real-time advice from the player, the children focused on their steps, ball touches and gaze as they practised.
Honda Fuchi (本田風智) also answered questions from the children. He explained the importance of looking around and his view that improving basic footwork skills expands the options available during play. He also shared an episode about being able to perform 1,000 keepy-uppies when he was in the 4th grade of elementary school.
The initiative aims to create an environment where children can learn from professional players across distances. Going forward, it will connect local communities with professional expertise to provide learning opportunities and inspire dreams. A special match serving as the culmination of this season is scheduled for the next session.