SSC Napoli is delighted to unveil its third kit, a piece that brings together Naples and Japan and continues the “From Napoli to the World” journey of discovery and cultural connection.
This stage of our journey from Naples to the world takes inspiration from the twinning of Naples and the Japanese city of Kagoshima in 1960. Despite being so far away from each other, the twinning of the two ports is a symbol of their affinity and the unique characteristics that they share, from the gulfs to the volcanos that dominate the landscape: Vesuvius in Naples and Sakurajima in Kagoshima. The friendship between the two cities has led both of them to dedicate street names to each other: “Napoli-dori” (Naples street) in Kagoshima and “Via Kagoshima” in Naples. This represents the starting point of a broader celebration of the cultural link between Naples and Japan, which has been made even more special by the number of Napoli fans in the area. Their enthusiasm ever strengthens the relationship between the two twinned cities.
The new shirt, which is the product of our collaboration with EA7, was designed as a modern armour for those that wear it. It pays homage to the figure of the Samurai and features distinctive details such as the kabuto (helmet), the menpo (mask), and the katana, a symbol of strength and protection but also of ideal union between cultures. The samurai mask sits on a pattern of waves, a motif that makes reference to Japanese art. The shirt also features a design enriched by the Neapolitan baroque style, as seen on the finish around the collar, which adds a touch of elegance and pays homage to the artistic traditions of Naples. On the right side of the shirt the seven Bushido virtues are written: Righteousness, Respect, Courage, Honour, Compassion, Honesty and Loyalty. These are the fundamental principles of Samurai discipline. These values also represent Napoli, our players and our fans, who are ready to enter the pitch like modern-day warriors, full of dedication and pride.
On the launch of the third kit, Tommaso Bianchini, Chief Revenue Officer of Napoli, said: “The third kit perfectly places itself at the heart of our project ‘From Napoli to the World’. Starting in Naples, we arrive at the Japanese city of Kagoshima to tell the story of the relationship between these two distant cultures that are linked by a warrior’s spirit. With this shirt, we celebrate strength, respect and loyalty, which are values that we proudly bring onto the pitch. We chose to present the kit in Kagoshima in honour of the historic twinning of our two cities. At the same time, we went to discover a hidden corner of Japan in Naples, the Ten Shin Zen Temple in Fuorigrotta where we filmed part of the launch video with students from the Samurai Academy Naples.
This is only the start of a process of developing projects linked to Japan and is part of a bigger strategic plan to widen our global fan base.”
The Napoli third kit is now available on the Online Store and can be purchased from Sunday 3 December in official SSC Napoli stores and from Monday 4 November in SSC Napoli Official Resellers.
We would like to thank the “Ten Shin – Cuore di Cielo Puro” Soto Zen Temple in Via Terracina 429 and the Samurai Academy Naples for their collaboration.
