Yamaha Begins Remote Cheering Project with 26 Professional Football Clubs in Japan, Aimed at Creating a New Normal for Sports Fans Cheering from Home

Yamaha Corporation has started offering its currently in-development remote cheering system 'Remote Cheerer powered by SoundUD' from June 27 to enable remote cheering for 26 football clubs at selected MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE matches, MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE matches, and MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE matches, which aims to become a new way of spectating sports in an age of remote support for matches.

System introduction video (as of May 25)

Example video (as of July 1)

Remote Cheerer powered by SoundUD enables users to tap 'support buttons' via a mobile site as each match unfolds, playing back their cheers and applause through speakers set up at stadiums. The system was developed in consideration of hospitalized children, those busy with responsibilities such as childcare, the disabled and elderly, and supporters unable to attend stadiums, allowing them to cheer together with attending supporters and having their support reach stadiums. In addition, with the recent increase in coronavirus infections, this technology is attracting a great deal of attention as a way to maintain new lifestyles of social distancing.

For this project, the system has already commenced testing at selected MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE matches starting from July 4, MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE matches, MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE matches resuming/starting from June 27, with fans and supporters enjoying the application while watching broadcast or streamed sports, confirming the viability of a new way to spectate in this age of remote support for matches.

J1: SHONAN BELLMARE, SHIMIZU S-PULSE, VISSEL KOBE, SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA, SAGANTOSU

J2: MONTEDIO YAMAGATA, TOCHIGI SC, OMIYA ARDIJA, JEF UNITED ICHIHARA CHIBA, VENTFORET KOFU, MATSUMOTO YAMAGA FC, JUBILO IWATA, FAGIANO OKAYAMA, RENOFA YAMAGUCHI FC, AVISPA FUKUOKA, GIRAVANZ KITAKYUSHU, FC RYUKYU

J3: BLAUBLITZ AKITA, FUKUSHIMA UNITED FC, S.C. SAGAMIHARA, KATALLER TOYAMA, FUJIEDA MYFC, AZUL CLARO NUMAZU, FC GIFU, KAMATAMARE SANUKI, ROASSO KUMAMOTO

Recent times offer increasing opportunities to appreciate live music, sports, lectures and more through public viewing, streaming services, or TV and radio. However, it has not been possible for those watching from home or afar to have their excited voices of support reach venues.

This system, still in the process of patent application, was created to solve this problem through 'SoundUD' technology*. Those wishing to attend a venue but unable to do so due to being busy with childcare, hospitalized, or even being overseas can have their support sent from afar through speakers at venues using this system. With this new style of viewing, which makes interactive support possible by connecting remote locations with venues, visitors to venues and viewers far away can be united in their support.

Test conducted at practice match in Shizuoka's Ecopa Stadium:

System requirements (smartphone)

iOS:Safari, Android:Google Chrome

* Technology used to implement Sound Universal Design standardized by the SoundUD Consortium (Secretariat: Yamaha Corp.). Sound and space are used together at supported spots to deliver easily accessible, important information to those locations. Using this technology, applications are being developed such as the 'Omotenashi Guide' application (provider: Aerial Acoustic Communications Association), which provides information as text in foreign languages for users who do not understand information provided in Japanese through means such as audio announcements.

* SoundUD Consortium official website:

* All product and entity names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Yamaha Corp. or each mentioned entity.

* Published information is accurate at time of publishing. Information may have changed since publication date.