Although the economic crisis stretched budgets thin, many companies in Japan still prioritized their corporate sports teams. These teams boost morale by improving the company’s reputations, engagement, and productivity. One such company, Asahi Kasei, has maintained a track-and-field team since 1946. Katsufumi Mano, the head of the team and a manager in the company’s administrative department, says that it is important to the company’s culture. “Major achievements by the athletes create a sense of solidarity among our 30,000 employees, including those working for group companies overseas and in Japan,” Mano said. “Support that transcends job boundaries creates a feeling of unity and loyalty to the company.” The Kobe Steel rugby team also creates a feeling of solidarity within the company. Even after it suffered tremendous losses during the Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, the company decided to maintain the rugby team due to the employees’ feelings of loyalty to it. “It’s great because we can see another side of our colleagues as players and their performance in the games,” said Toshiyasu Shishido, a staffer in the rugby team’s support office.