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DNP (Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.) and Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, signed a partnership agreement on July 6, 2026, with the aim of promoting community and human development through sports utilizing smart fencing*1. The two parties will work to foster the healthy development of children, promote lifelong sports, and publicize the region's attractions through this sport, which anyone can easily participate in, in the "City of Fencing, Numazu."Scene from the signing ceremony (Left: Numazu Mayor Shuichi Raishige, Right: DNP Executive Officer, Head of Content & XR Communication Division, Shuichi Watanabe)Goals of the Partnership AgreementNumazu City has been working to popularize fencing and revitalize the region as the "City of Fencing." However, traditional fencing requires specialized swords, protective gear, scoring equipment, and a suitable environment, limiting opportunities for citizens to experience it casually.Since 2019, DNP has offered smart fencing, allowing anyone to enjoy fencing safely and easily using soft swords and a smartphone app. This service has been experienced by over 150,000 people in total, contributing to the creation of sports experience opportunities.Now, the two parties aim to solve regional issues and create new opportunities for interaction by utilizing smart fencing, going beyond just sports experience to foster the healthy development of children, promote lifelong sports, improve health, encourage community interaction, and promote the city.Numazu City recognized the convenience of smart fencing, which anyone can easily experience from the service's launch, and has been considering and implementing ways to utilize it with DNP, such as in citizen participation events and sports popularization initiatives. The partnership agreement was signed to further develop the collaboration between the two parties.Scene from the signing ceremony (Left: DNP Executive Officer, Head of Content & XR Communication Division, Shuichi Watanabe, Right: Numazu Mayor Shuichi Raishige)Key Contents of the Partnership AgreementPromotion of smart fencingFostering the healthy development of childrenPromotion of lifelong sports for citizens through smart fencingPromotion of city branding and fostering civic prideImprovement of medical care, welfare, and healthy longevityOperation of smart fencing competitionsFuture DevelopmentsThe two parties will deploy smart fencing in school physical education classes, community events, official tournaments, and health promotion initiatives. They will also work to publicize the region's attractions through collaboration with the media.In commemoration of this agreement, the official tournament "NUMAZU SMART FENCING Grand Prix 2026"*2 will be held on July 20, 2026 (Mon). Leveraging the knowledge gained from this initiative, they will develop it as an advanced model of public-private collaboration and expand cooperation with municipalities, educational institutions, sports organizations, companies, and media nationwide, with the concept of "From Numazu to the World."Through the popularization of smart fencing, DNP will promote the social implementation of new sports experiences utilizing XR technology*3, leading to regional revitalization and the creation of new opportunities for interaction.*1 About Smart Fencing → https://www.dnp.co.jp/biz/products/detail/20173811_4986.html*2 Tournament Details → https://www.city.numazu.shizuoka.jp/fencing/competition/doc/nsf2026youkou.pdf*3 XR Technology → https://www.dnp.co.jp/biz/products/maintag/xr.html* Smart Fencing is a registered trademark of DNP Dai Nippon Printing.* Company names, product names, and service names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.* The information provided is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that it may be subject to change without prior notice.