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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Athletics is excited to collaborate with Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, a renowned national eatery specializing in Japanese noodle soup, to provide Crimson fans with their signature cuisine at select Harvard home games through 2027. This marks Hokkaido Ramen Santouka’s first-ever partnership in the United States, secured with the assistance of JMI Sports, a leading media rights and venue development company.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka will have a presence at Jordan Field during Harvard Athletics’ Inaugural Cambridge Day on Saturday, April 19, during the 12 p.m. ET men’s lacrosse game against Cornell.
“We are very excited and honored to be a sponsor of Harvard Athletics. Having done business in Harvard Square for 10 years, we have long sought opportunities to contribute to the community,” said Takahiro Igo, General Manager at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. “Through this partnership, we aim to introduce Japanese food and culture to the Harvard community and are committed to making our store a comforting and welcoming place for students and Crimson fans.”
Located just 10 minutes from Harvard’s campus in the bustling Harvard Square, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka has become a beloved destination for those seeking traditional Japanese ramen.
“We’ve seen firsthand how Hokkaido Ramen’s delicious food has enhanced the fan experience at Harvard Football games this year,” said Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Nick Majocha. “We look forward to welcoming Hokkaido to their first Lacrosse game this season on Cambridge Day during one of our busiest Spring weekends, and we know that they’ll continue to be a hit at Harvard Football this Fall.”
JMI Sports is the multimedia rights holder for Harvard Athletics and operates locally as Harvard Sports Marketing. The team played a key role in facilitating this partnership.
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ABOUT HOKKAIDO RAMEN
Santouka is one of the largest ramen shop operators in the world, with 55 locations across 9 countries, including 16 in the United States. Since its founding in 1983 as a small, popular ramen shop in Sapporo, Hokkaido, the brand has rapidly expanded. The first store outside Japan opened in the United States in 2005, and today, more than three-quarters of Santouka’s locations are overseas. Santouka is renowned for its mouthwatering tonkotsu soup, made by simmering pork bones for approximately 20 hours. The menu features a variety of flavors, including shio (creamy salt), shoyu (soy sauce), and miso (soybean paste), all served with a generous portion of ramen noodles and an array of toppings like chashu pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, soft-boiled eggs, and more. Additionally, the menu offers a selection of delicious sides, such as Japanese karaage-style fried chicken, fried rice, gyoza, and desserts. The Harvard Square location is a family-friendly establishment.
ABOUT HARVARD ATHLETICS
Harvard University fields an athletic program that is the largest and one of the most successful in Division I of the NCAA. With 42 varsity sports and over 1,200 varsity athletes, Harvard is fully committed to a well-rounded athletic program, consisting of club, intramural and recreation opportunities for all students. Athletics at Harvard builds community through the engagement of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and creates a portal through which neighboring communities can enjoy the Harvard experience. Harvard Athletics has a tradition of success and competitive excellence that began with the first intercollegiate athletic event (a rowing race) in 1852. Harvard teams have won 457 Ivy League championships and 157 national championships. In addition, Harvard Athletics also serves an important role within the University by promoting principled leadership on and off the field, as well as integrating academics and athletics. For more information on Harvard Athletics, please visit www.GoCrimson.com.
ABOUT JMI SPORTS
JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies.
JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, the University of Utah, UCLA, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, and joint-venture properties of the University of Georgia (with Learfield), and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues, and events including the Breeders’ Cup, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Rose Bowl, and the Penn Relays.
JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres.
To learn more, please visit www.jmisports.com.
AloJapan.com